| Summary: | Abstract Background Fungi were grown elsewhere in the soil, water, and food, and fungi cause many of the problems during growth on food in stores. This study investigated the occurrence and frequency of fungi in four governorates in Yemen. Twenty-nine site samples of poultry rations were collected from four governorates in Yemen, in order to study the occurrence of fungi and production of mycotoxins. Results Fungi associated and isolated from poultry ration were identified as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus carneus, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium spp., Mucor sp., and Rhizopus nigricans. Frequency from Sana’a companies showed that F. moniliforme was significantly dominant (38.82%), followed by Aspergillus flavus (15.84%) and Aspergillus candidus (16.44%). While, from Taiz companies showed that Aspergillus flavus significantly was dominant (35.78%), followed by Fusarium moniliforme (29.26%). The results indicated that the samples collected from Taiz companies showed that high concentrations of aflatoxins ranged 26–45 ppb, than other samples which were collected from Sana’a while the fumonisins were 1–5.9 ppm. Moreover, lower concentrations of fumonisins were collected from Taiz companies (0.65–0.93 ppm). Aflatoxins in samples collected from farmer’s poultry in Taiz and Dhamar were 42.5 ppb. Also in samples from Sana’a and Ibb, the high concentration found is 39 ppb. The maximum significant mean of aflatoxins production was 25.2 ppb at 25 °C. Aflatoxins production was decreased at lower or higher tested temperature (3.6, 9.93 ppb) at 15 °C and 35 °C respectively. Similarly, fumonisin produced at 25 °C was 1.65 ppm, but decreased at lower or higher temperatures tested 1.3 and 0.54 ppm at (15 °C and 35 °C respectively. Conclusion This study found that the poultry rations were highly contaminated by fungi. Moreover, some of the fresh samples contain high level of aflatoxins and fumonisin. On the other hand, this level may cause significant economic losses in the poultry industry in Yemen.
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