NEONATAL JAUNDICE WITH REFERENCE TO AFLATOXINS - AN ETIOLOGIC STUDY IN ZARIA, NORTHERN NIGERIA

Two prospective studies were undertaken to determine a possible relati onship between perinatal aflatoxin exposure and neonatal jaundice. Fir st, cord blood samples from 37 neonates who subsequently developed jau ndice and from 40 non-jaundiced (control) babies were analysed for six major aflatoxins and aflatoxicol. Peripheral blood samples of both gr oups were also analysed postnatally for aflatoxins. In a second study, serum aflatoxin levels of 64 jaundiced neonates admitted from outside the hospital were compared with levels in 60 non-jaundiced control ba bies. Aflatoxins were detected in 14 (37.8%) cord blood samples of jau ndiced neonates and in nine (22.5%) of the controls. The mean cord afl atoxin concentration was highest in jaundiced neonates with septicaemi a, but the difference was not statistically significant. The frequency of detection of aflatoxins in peripheral blood was not significantly different in jaundiced and non-jaundiced babies. Aflatoxins were detec ted in the blood of over 50% of neonates with jaundice of 'unknown' ae tiology. There was no correlation between severity of hyperbilirubinae mia and serum aflatoxin levels. Further studies are needed to determin e the extent of pre- and postnatal exposure to aflatoxin in Nigerian i nfants and the effects of such exposure on fetal and neonatal health.