Aflatoxin M1 contamination of raw milk in Khoy city

Aflatoxins are toxic mold metabolites produced by different Aspergillus species. These toxins have an important role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases such as cancer, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the level of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk and the presence of the fungus in animal feed collected in Khoy city. In a cross-sectional study, random samples were selected from the collected raw milk in different parts of Khoy city in a time interval between the second half of the summer and the first half of the winter. After centrifugation of samples, upper part of centrifuged milk containing milk fat was removed and the lower portion of fat-free milk was used to analyze the aflatoxin level by ELISA kit manufactured by R-biopharm Company. Results showed that 51.06% of samples collected in the second half of summer (July and August) and 52.32% of samples collected in the first half of winter (October, November and December) in 1394, were contaminated with aflatoxins with a range of 0-8 μg/L and an average of 0.5-8 μg/L, respectively. The average of the aflatoxin contamination was over Europe standard (0.05μg/L) in 60.47% of samples. R. stolonifer, A. flavus and A. clavatus species were found in all studied cattle feeds. The presence of aflatoxin in dairy products is a very serious and important problem to public health, especially to infants and children who are considered as the largest consumers of these products. To reduce the amount of aflatoxin in milk, dairy animal feeds must be controlled in terms of contamination with M1 aflatoxin.