A Study on Contamination of Raw Milk with Aflatoxin M, at the Hamedan Province, Iran

A survey on the occurrence of aflatoxin Mj ( AFM[) was carried out in the summer and winter using raw milk samples collected from 89 dairy farms situated in 8 cities in Hamedan province. All samples were analyzed for the presence of AFMj by competitive ELISA technique. AFlVf was found in 185 out of 534 (34.6%) samples. The levels of AFMj in 14 (2.6%) samples were higher than the maximum tolerance limit (50 ng/L) accepted by European Union. Moreover, the difference due to cities under study was significant when considering the seasons( p<0.05).That is, the mean concentration of AFM; was observed to be high during the winter months as compared with summer months in all the cities under study. The contamination ratio of milk in summer and winter months was 56.5 and 71.7%), respectively (P < 0.05). AFlVf concentration greater than 50 ng/L has not been identified in any of the samples obtained during the summer while 15/7%) of the samples obtained during the winter were higher than the maximum tolerance limit. Extrapolation of aflatoxin Bl (AFE^) from AFM, levels of contamination in milk samples indicated that the contamination in 5 (1.9%) daily cattle feeds was higher than European Community limit (5fig/ kg). It is concluded that AFM! and Aflatoxin in feed stuffs should be controlled in the future.