Mass Spectrometry

Biography

Biography: Makhapa Makhafola

Abstract

Mycotoxins can be formed on crops in the field, during harvest, or during storage, processing, or feeding. Many different mycotoxins exist and they affect dairy cattle in many ways, the most important is perhaps immunosuppression. Symptoms of mycotoxins may be nonspecific and wide ranging which may include: reduced production, reduced feed consumption, intermittent diarrhea (sometimes with bloody or dark manure), reduced feed intake, thriftiness, rough hair coat, reduced reproductive performance including irregular oestrus cycles, embryonic mortalities. While mycotoxins can cause acute toxicity, they are more likely to cause chronic problems of increased disease and decreased milk production. Contamination of milk by aflatoxin can cause huge economic losses. Management of crops and feeds is important to reduce mycotoxin contamination.  Mintek, undertakes research and development which focuses on various nanostructured materials and nano-minerals and their application in health (including diagnostics and therapeutics) and water treatment. The organization also seeks to advance the field of food security and as a results we partner with the University of Johannesburg for the assessment exposure levels to mycotoxins among dairy cattle in the Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces using HPLC (ESI)-MS/MSⁿ. The levels and nature of mycotoxins and some of their main metabolites in dairy feed, raw milk and urine samples collected from some dairy cattle farms are currently being assessed and will be discussed in detail. The research project aims to generate data to propose recommendation to the South African government on the threat of mycotoxins contamination to animal and human health.