Fungus Responsible for Africa's Food-Related Deaths Identified
May 4, 2007| |
Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have positively identified the poisonous strain of fungus responsible for food-related deaths in Kenya. The “S” strain of Aspergillus flavus tainted Kenya’s maize crop, the primary food staple, with deadly levels of poisons known as aflatoxins that killed 125 people in Kenya in 2004.
Through a special permit, the researchers were able to obtain samples of contaminated maize from affected Kenyan villages. After grinding the corn, they isolated the fungi and grew them in culture. They found the "S" strain of A. flavus, a potent aflatoxin producer not previously known in Africa, to be the most prevalent source of toxins in the maize.
The news article is available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070426.htm.
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