Evaluation of the detection techniques of toxigenic Aspergillus isolates.

Aflatoxins are difuranocoumarin derivatives produced by some Aspergillus species through a polyketide pathway. Mycotoxins are considered hazardous and there is a need for accurate detection of each toxin. Several screening methods for direct visual determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) production have been reported. These methods rely on using different types of coconut culture media, methylated â-cyclodextrin and ammonium hydroxide vapour tests. However, our results showed that use of these  techniques were not sufficiently sensitive for all Aspergillus species and suggested a simple thin layer  chromatography (TLC) as a sensitive and reliable technique for detection of aflatoxins and OTA produced by Aspergillus and Eurotium species.