Climate change and mycotoxins: The African experience

The role of climate change on mycotoxin profile and activity was reviewed. The unprecedented spread and relocation experienced by some regulated mycotoxins on food and feed items were investigated. Aspergillus species and aflatoxin, originally associated with tropical and subtropical climate characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa are now comfortable guests in temperate zones. The same applies to Fusarium and Penicilium species, earlier thought to be strictly specific to temperate regions of Europe, now encountered in tropical Africa, with their toxins like zearalenone and trichothecenes, particularly in recent surveillance studies. This review is an update on the unstable trend on a global mycotoxin map with reference to the obvious climatic dynamics, having Africa in view