Dietary intake of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and heavy metals through gizzard consumption in Cameroon.

Gizzard is a highly appreciated chicken tissue consumed by people of all age groups in Cameroon. However, it can be a source of several contaminants including mycotoxins such as aflatoxin (AFT) and ochratoxin A (OTA), as well as heavy metals. This study aimed to analyse AFT, AFB1, OTA, and heavy metals (chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg)) in broiler gizzard from poultry farms in three regions of Cameroon. Mycotoxins were analysed using competitive indirect ELISA, while heavy metals were measured using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Additionally the study assessed potential health hazards associated with the consumption of contaminated gizzards. The results revealed that gizzard was consumed by all the households surveyed, with estimated quantity ranging 0.004 g/day (children from West)-1.5 g/day (elderly from Littoral). Gizzards from all three regions were contaminated with AFT, AFB1, and OTA. AFT concentration ranged from 4.4 ± 0.1 (Centre region) to 6.5 ± 1.1 µg/kg (West region). The highest concentrations of heavy metals detected were Cd (32.5 ± 0.0 µg/kg: Centre; 29.3 ± 0.1 µg/kg: Littoral and 29.1 ± 0.4 µg/kg: West), Cr (442.0 ± 0.0 µg/kg: Centre; 406.8 ± 0.4 µg/kg: Littoral and 406.3 ± 0.4 µg/kg: West) and Hg (243.0 ± 0.0 µg/kg: Centre; 215.3 ± 0.1 µg/kg: Littoral and 215.3 ± 0.4 µg/kg: West). With margins of exposure to AFB1 and OTA below 600, adults and the elderly were more exposed to mycotoxins. Meanwhile, for heavy metals, the combined incremental lifetime cancer risk values exceeded 1 × 10-4 in children. The findings of this study suggest that consuming gizzards contaminated with mycotoxins and heavy metals especially among children poses a significant health risk.