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The aflatoxin type B and G producer Aspergillus novoparasiticus was described in 2012 and was firstly reported from sputum, hospital air (Brazil), and soil (Colombia). Later, several survey studies reported the occurrence of this species in different foods and other agricultural commodities from several countries worldwide. This short communication reports on an old fungal strain (CBS 108.30), isolated from Pseudococcus sacchari (grey sugarcane mealybug) from an Egyptian sugarcane field in (or before) 1930. This strain was initially identified as Aspergillus flavus; however, using the latest taxonomy schemes, the strain is, in fact, A. novoparasiticus. These data and previous reports indicate that A. novoparasiticus is strongly associated with sugarcane, and pre-harvest biocontrol approaches with non-toxigenic A. novoparasiticus strains are likely to be more successful than those using non-toxigenic A. flavus strains. Further studies on the association between A. novoparasiticus and Pseudococcus sacchari might shed light on the distribution (and aflatoxin contamination) of this species in sugarcane. Additionally, the interaction between A. novoparasiticus, Pseudococcus sacchari, and sugarcane crop under different scenarios of climate change will be critical in order to get more insight into the host–pathogen interaction and host resistance and propose appropriate prevention strategies to decrease mycotoxin contamination and crop loss due to A. novoparasiticus attack.

This survey was conducted to investigate the contamination by multiple mycotoxins, aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA) in 61 samples of maize and 17 commercial animal feed samples, and of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw dairy milk samples (n = 20) collected from Assiut City in Upper Egypt. Multi-mycotoxin immunoaffinity columns were used for samples cleanup and mycotoxin purification. An HPLC–FLD system with an on-line post-column photochemical derivatization was used for the detection of the target toxins. AFB1 was detected in both maize (n = 15) and feed (n = 8), with only one maize sample presenting a concentration above the maximum permissible level set by the Egyptian authorities. AFB2 was observed in six maize samples and in one feed sample, with a maximum value of 0.5 μg/kg. ZEA was detected only in feed samples (n = 4), with a maximum value of 3.5 μg/kg, while OTA, AFG1, and AFG2 were under the limits of detection. For milk, all the analyzed samples (100%) were contaminated with AFM1, and 14 samples (70%) presented concentrations above the maximum permissible level in the European Union (EU) (0.05 μg/kg). The concentrations ranged from 0.02 μg/kg to 0.19 μg/kg, except that of one sample, which was under the limit of quantification. The contamination rates in maize and animal feeds are not alarming. In contrast, the consumption of dairy milk samples in Assiut City may pose public health hazards, as AFM1 levels were found to exceed the international permissible limits. Further surveys are highly recommended in order to establish a database for mycotoxin occurrence in Egypt to minimize the possible health risks in animals and humans

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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of prebiotic on behavioural patterns performance and some blood parameters of ducks. A total of forty-eight 15 days-aged ducks (Mule) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1.5 g/ kg and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic, respectively. The results indicated that using prebiotic as a feed additive at a dose of 1.5 g/kg effect on duck movement activities as it increased walking and standing activities, while it reduced the resting behavioural activities. Further, regarding the ingestive behaviour, both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic addition increased the feeding activities, while, only adding 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the drinking activities in comparison to the control. Moreover, the result indicated that prebiotic did not affect preening activities. Moreover, the inclusion of prebiotic at 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg caused numerical improvement in all measured performance parameters (i.e. body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, caloric conversion ratio, and performance index). The 3.0 g/kg level of prebiotic induced significant decreased in serum cholesterol and both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the HI titer of Avian influenza vaccine. In conclusion, prebiotic supplementations up to 0.30 g/kg diet show a non-significant positive effect on duck growth performance. However, the behavioural and haematological responses of duck to prebiotic supplementation are needed to be carefully considered.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of prebiotic on behavioural patterns performance and some blood parameters of ducks. A total of forty-eight 15 days-aged ducks (Mule) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1.5 g/ kg and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic, respectively. The results indicated that using prebiotic as a feed additive at a dose of 1.5 g/kg effect on duck movement activities as it increased walking and standing activities, while it reduced the resting behavioural activities. Further, regarding the ingestive behaviour, both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic addition increased the feeding activities, while, only adding 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the drinking activities in comparison to the control. Moreover, the result indicated that prebiotic did not affect preening activities. Moreover, the inclusion of prebiotic at 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg caused numerical improvement in all measured performance parameters (i.e. body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, caloric conversion ratio, and performance index). The 3.0 g/kg level of prebiotic induced significant decreased in serum cholesterol and both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the HI titer of Avian influenza vaccine. In conclusion, prebiotic supplementations up to 0.30 g/kg diet show a non-significant positive effect on duck growth performance. However, the behavioural and haematological responses of duck to prebiotic supplementation are needed to be carefully considered.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of prebiotic on behavioural patterns performance and some blood parameters of ducks. A total of forty-eight 15 days-aged ducks (Mule) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1.5 g/ kg and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic, respectively. The results indicated that using prebiotic as a feed additive at a dose of 1.5 g/kg effect on duck movement activities as it increased walking and standing activities, while it reduced the resting behavioural activities. Further, regarding the ingestive behaviour, both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic addition increased the feeding activities, while, only adding 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the drinking activities in comparison to the control. Moreover, the result indicated that prebiotic did not affect preening activities. Moreover, the inclusion of prebiotic at 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg caused numerical improvement in all measured performance parameters (i.e. body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, caloric conversion ratio, and performance index). The 3.0 g/kg level of prebiotic induced significant decreased in serum cholesterol and both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the HI titer of Avian influenza vaccine. In conclusion, prebiotic supplementations up to 0.30 g/kg diet show a non-significant positive effect on duck growth performance. However, the behavioural and haematological responses of duck to prebiotic supplementation are needed to be carefully considered.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of prebiotic on behavioural patterns performance and some blood parameters of ducks. A total of forty-eight 15 days-aged ducks (Mule) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1.5 g/ kg and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic, respectively. The results indicated that using prebiotic as a feed additive at a dose of 1.5 g/kg effect on duck movement activities as it increased walking and standing activities, while it reduced the resting behavioural activities. Further, regarding the ingestive behaviour, both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic addition increased the feeding activities, while, only adding 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the drinking activities in comparison to the control. Moreover, the result indicated that prebiotic did not affect preening activities. Moreover, the inclusion of prebiotic at 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg caused numerical improvement in all measured performance parameters (i.e. body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, caloric conversion ratio, and performance index). The 3.0 g/kg level of prebiotic induced significant decreased in serum cholesterol and both 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg prebiotic increased the HI titer of Avian influenza vaccine. In conclusion, prebiotic supplementations up to 0.30 g/kg diet show a non-significant positive effect on duck growth performance. However, the behavioural and haematological responses of duck to prebiotic supplementation are needed to be carefully considered.