Measurement of aflatoxin M1 by ELISA method in milk samples produced by cattle in farms of Shahre Ghods, Shahriar, Iran

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a metabolite of the aflatoxin B1 found in the liver of livestock, as a result of feeding livestock with contaminated food. Certain species of Aspergillus are responsible for producing aflatoxin. The present study was performed to evaluate the measurement of AFM1, by ELISA method, in milk samples collected from dairy farms of Shahre Ghods, Shahriar (Tehran, Iran). In this study, during autumn (2016), 82 samples of milk from 41 dairy farms in Shahre Ghods, Shahriar provinces, were randomly selected and assessed AFM1 contamination using the ELISA. On centrifugation of milk, the supernatant including the milk fats was separated and the pellet lacking the milk fat was analyzed through competitive ELISA test, and the amount of aflatoxin was determined. The results obtained from ELISA assay revealed that 90% of samples were contaminated by AFM1 to a measurable amount and only 8 samples (9.7%) crossed the Iran Standard Level of aflatoxin contamination (50 ng/l). Milk and dairy products may be contaminated, and since AFM1 is a serious form of threat for human health and is potentially dangerous, it is essential to constantly assess the livestock feed for aflatoxin contamination to minimize or eliminate its amount in milk or dairy products.