PRESENZA DI AFLATOSSINE NEI MANGIMI DESTINATI ALL’ALIMENTAZIONE ANIMALE PRESENCE OF AFLATOXINS IN FEEDSTUFF

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins which may be produced by two fungi, Aspergillus flavus e Aspergillus parasiticus. A. flavus produces aflatoxin B1 and B2, while A. parasiticus produces aflatoxin G1 and G2. Aflatoxin M1 is the hydroxylated metabolites of aflatoxin B1 and may be found in milk or milk products obtained from livestock that have ingested contaminated feed. The main sources of aflatoxins in animal feeds are groundnut meal, maize and cottonseed meal. During autumn 2003 took place a considerable increase of the level of aflatoxin M1 in the Italian milk. To understand which is the principal source of aflatoxins B1 in animal feeds of cows with high level of AFM1 in milk, we have collected 409 samples of different animal feed. These samples have been analysed for the determination of aflatoxins: in accordance with the results, maize can be considered the principal source of contamination. The great quantity of this cereal used in compound and concentrated feed makes these feed other important sources of contamination.