The aim of this systematic review is to provide information regarding the incidence and levels of aflatoxin M (AFM) in raw and heat processed cow's milk in Serbia during 2015-16 and to compare these with collected data on the occurrence of AFM in raw milk and dairy products during the last decade in our region. Estimation of dietary exposure (EDI) and hazard index (HI) calculations for different age groups of the population were also carried out, based on the AFM content of milk samples and on available food consumption data in Serbia. AFM was detected in 69.9% (984/1408) of raw milk samples in 2015 versus 84.9% (3094/3646) in 2016, while in heat-processed milk, AFM was detected in 77.8% (364/468) in 2015 versus 98.5% (753/765) in 2016. On the basis of the obtained results, 450 (9%) of raw and 14 (1.1%) of heat-processed milk samples were contaminated with AFM levels above the maximum permitted level in Serbia (0.25 μg kg). However, a large percentage of raw and heat processed milk in Serbia (30.1% and 17.3%, respectively) was contaminated with AFM levels above the maximum permitted level regulated in the European Union (0.05 μg kg). Therefore, in order to protect consumer health, it is extremely important to further control the level of aflatoxins in milk, and this should be considered as a high priority for risk management actions.

a b s t r a c tThe aim of this study was to determine how dietary supplementation of inorganic and organic selenium affects the selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood and sperm of sexually mature stud boars. Twenty-four boars of the Large White, Landrace, Pietrain and Duroc breeds of optimal breeding age (on average 2.5 years old) were used. The study lasted 90 days. The boars were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatment groups: T1 = control; no added selenium (n = 8 boars), T2 = added 0.3 ppm inorganic selenium (sodium selenite, Microgran ® Se 1% BMP) (n = 8 boars), and T3 = added 0.3 ppm organic selenium (Se-yeast, Sel-Plex 2000 ® ) (n = 8 boars). The concentration of selenium was determined in whole blood and semen, while the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was measured in blood plasma and semen. In order to measure GPx activity in semen, reactivation of the enzymatic GPx activity was performed. The determined selenium concentration in blood was lowest in the non-supplemented group of boars. Blood plasma GPx activity was higher in boars fed organic selenium than in boars fed a diet without supplemented selenium. While the supplementation of sodium selenite significantly increased GPx activity in boar semen. The highest-concentration of selenium in semen at the end of the trial was determined in the group of boars supplemented with organic selenium, somewhat lower in boars fed supplemented inorganic selenium, and the lowest in the non-supplemented group of boars. The only significant difference between the selenite and Se-yeast diet supplementation was observed in the Se concentration of the semen. The supplementation of selenium affected semen quality, and organic selenium improved the progressive motility of the spermatozoa and increased their resistance in hypo-osmotic and thermal tests. The storage ability of short term preserved semen was improved by organic selenium supplementation, as well as also increasing the fertility rate in gilts.

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Samples of blood, kidney and liver were randomly selected from slaughtered pigs (n=90) and analyzed for ochratoxin A by HPLC. In addition, in order to obtain information on the occurrence of nephropathy, histological examinations were carried out. Of the 90 liver samples, 26.6% contained OTA in the range of 0.22-14.5 ng/g. The incidence of OTA in serum and kidney were very similar (31%, 33.3%), with a maximum concentration of 220.8 ng/mL, and 52.5 ng/g, respectively. Histopathological examination of kidneys confirmed tubulopathies with edema and cell vacuolization. In addition, hemorrhages and necrosis of proximal kidney tubules' cells were found.

Background The impact of climate change has been identified as an emerging issue worldwide owing to potential effects that can provoke changes in the nature and occurrence of food safety hazards. Mycotoxins are a group of naturally occurring toxic substances produced by several genera of filamentous fungi, among which, primarily aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes and zearalenone are of the greatest concern owing to their negative impact on human health, animal productivity and international trade. Results Extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts which have not occurred previously in Serbia may be supporting factors for contamination of crops by various species of toxigenic fungi and their related mycotoxins. In this study, principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate analyses were used as powerful tools allowing better understanding of the range of climate factors impacting on crop contamination by mycotoxins. Among the selected environmental variables, temperature and moisture significantly influenced aflatoxin production. Recent drought and then flooding confirmed that Serbia is one of the few European countries with very high risk exposure to natural hazards, as well as that mycotoxins are one of the foodborne hazards most susceptible to climate change. Thus climate change effects on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin contamination are now receiving scientific attention, especially from a risk analysis perspective. Conclusion This paper evaluates the available information on the influence of climate change on mycotoxin contamination, especially aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). In addition, this investigation should beneficially contribute to more accurate predictions of the regional risk from mycotoxins in future decades. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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