Aflatoxin health risk in the feed source: Integrated strategies for feed safety and sustainable One Health

Aflatoxin contamination in animal feed represents a critical challenge with profound implications for poultry and livestock health, food safety, and public welfare. Primarily produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, these highly toxic secondary metabolites, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), contaminate agricultural crops during pre-harvest, harvest, and storage phases under warm and humid conditions. Globally, aflatoxin contamination levels in animal feeds vary considerably depending on climatic conditions and storage practices. Regulatory limits generally range from 20 to 300 μg/kg depending on the target animal species, field concentrations in highly susceptible regions often exceed these safety thresholds, posing substantial risks to animal health and food safety. Once ingested, aflatoxins lead to severe hepatic toxicity, immunosuppression, reproductive disorders, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases in animals. Furthermore, the carry-over of carcinogenic AFB1 into animal-derived products, particularly milk, meat, and eggs, presents a severe public health threat, while causing substantial economic losses through decreased productivity and trade restrictions. Understanding the environmental conditions favoring aflatoxigenic fungi is critical for developing effective mitigation. Preventive measures including timely harvesting, adequate drying, optimized storage conditions, and biological interventions (e.g., non-toxigenic Aspergillus strains) are essential to diminish contamination risk. Coupled with advanced diagnostic technologies, such as immunoassays and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), alongside stringent regulatory surveillance, these interventions minimize exposure. This review adopts a One Health perspective to address the multifactorial complexity of aflatoxin contamination, encompassing fungal ecology, innovations in detection and detoxification methods, and socioeconomic approaches aimed at sustainable feed management.