Aflatoxins Contamination in Animal Feeds and Fresh Milk in Kondoa District, Tanzania

Abstract

The occurrence of aflatoxins in animal feeds and milk is common around the World as most livestock keepers are not aware of aflatoxins.
 Aims: This study was conducted to assess storage and feeding practices, and assessment of aflatoxin B1 and M1 contamination in animal feeds and fresh milk samples in Kondoa.
 Study Design: The study involved a survey using semi-structured questionnaires and Laboratory analysis of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 in animal feeds and fresh milk samples collected from among smallholder dairy farmers.
 Methodology: Purposive selection of 120 respondents among smallholder dairy farmers in six wards purposively selected due to having larger number of dairy cattle was conducted. Likewise, 20 samples of animal feeds and 25 composite milk samples from among 120 interviewed farmers were analysed for aflatoxin B1 and M1 using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
 Results: The results indicates that, aflatoxin B1 in feeds was 55%, with mean concentration of 8.6 ±5.9 μg/kg ranging from the lowest limit of detection (LOD) to 21.1 μg/kg with 5% samples above the maximum level stipulated by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and European Union (EU) of 20 μg/kg. Likewise, about 44% of the milk samples revealed to contain traces of aflatoxin M1 with a mean amount of 0.07 ±0.08 μg/L, ranging from the limit of detection (<LOD) to 0.23 μg/L, and 12% exceeding the TBS and EU standards of 0.05 μg/kg.
 Conclusion: There is need to scale up aflatoxin awareness campaigns and regular monitoring throughout the food system in Tanzania.
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: 

Aflatoxin M1 in Raw Milk Collected from Specialized Dairy Farms and Local Markets in Selected Urban Centers of Eastern Ethiopia

“…Therefore, in this study, aflatoxin M1 was detected in 115/180 (63.9%) milk samples with an overall average concentration of 0.179±0.48 µg/L, which ranges from LOD (0.008 µg/L) to 3.85 µg/L. Thus, in the present study higher occurrence and level of AFM1 in raw milk indicates that lactating cows have been exposed to concentrate feeds or feed ingredients that are prone to AFB1 contamination [58,59], despite the determination of AFB1 in feeds has not been the scope of this study.…”

“…Similarly, the average concentration of 0.183 µg/L (N=38), and 156.71 ng/L (N=84) of AFM1 were reported in the raw milk of dairy cows of Algeria and Yemen respectively [50,67]. However, the variation in AFM1 prevalence within different reports may be associated with different methods for toxin detection, geographical locations, agro-climatic variations, feed sources or feed ingredients, and feed storage conditions [17,48,59].…”