Aflatoxin levels in sera of health first time rural blood donors: preliminary report.

Serum levels of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in 20 farmers (first time blood donors at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria) were determined and compared with 15 patients of varied diagnoses. 25% of the farmers had levels of B1 above 0.2 microgram per ml and correspondingly the highest values of other aflatoxins. Except for the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had a B1 level of 0.13 microgram per ml, other sick control values ranged from 0.005 to 0.091 microgram per ml. None of the farmers with high levels of B1 had positive serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) as determined by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). A continuous prospective study may define the role of aflatoxin vis-à-vis hepatitis B virus (Hbv) in the pathogenesis of the high incidence of liver disease prevalent the Guinea Savannah North of Nigeria.