[Aflatoxins in newly harvested corn in Panama]

Mycotoxins are fungal metabolites that may contaminate foods and feeds, resulting at times in important disease in humans and animals. Thirty-six samples of nine varieties of newly harvested corn (4 samples each variety) were analyzed in search of aflatoxins by thin layer chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography, and also cultured for the presence of Aspergillus flavus. Of the 36 samples studied, one was contaminated with 1290 ppb aflatoxin B1, which is 258x the concentration suggested by WHO, placed at 5 ppb in food for human consumption. Culture of the 36 samples of corn resulted in growth of 55 colonies of A. flavus from all but two (1 and 6) of the 9 varieties. Of the 55 colonies of A. flavus obtained, 15 (27.3%) were toxigenic. Comments are made on the public health implications of these findings.