Abstract

CAPELLI, Alejandra; SUAREZ, Gonzalo  and  GARCIA Y SANTOS, Carmen. Aflatoxins in food and cow milk from 18 commercial farm in the south-central and eastern regions of Uruguay. Veterinaria (Montev.) [online]. 2019, vol.55, n.212, pp.52-56.  Epub Dec 01, 2019. ISSN 0376-4362.  https://doi.org/10.29155/vet.55.212.2.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxicogenic fungi species. They can contaminate humans and animals’ food and once ingested can cause health harms. There are more than 250 mycotoxins, being aflatoxins one of the most studied due to their potential carcinogenic effect. It is known that the aflatoxins consumed by animals are metabolized and excreted in part by milk as aflatoxin M1, representing a potential risk for human health. Aflatoxins source for animals is feed, therefore, the maximum permitted levels are regulated, as well as the presence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and derivatives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the natural presence of aflatoxins in the feeds destined to dairy cows in production in 18 commercial dairy farms of Uruguay. It also aimed to determine the correlation between the consumption of those feeds and the presence of aflatoxin M1 in the milk of the animals. In order to achieve this objective, feed and milk samples were taken randomly from 18 dairy farms located in the south central area and the east region of Uruguay. Milk was taken from the cold tank. Aflatoxins were quantified by Elisa technique. The totally of the feed samples and 91.8% of the milk samples were contaminated with some aflatoxin levels. The levels of aflatoxins did not correlate with those of aflatoxin M1. The levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk did not exceed the maximum consumption levels allowed in Uruguay, thus did not represent a risk for human health.

Keywords : Mycotoxins; Aflatoxin M₁; Dairy cattle; Public health.

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