The frequency of occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk on the territory of Vojvodina

Aflatoxin is one of the most common mycotoxins which can be found in milk. It represents a natural metabolite of aflatoxin B1 that occurs as a result of animal metabolism and the body's attempt to detoxificate it. It is excreted in milk, feces and urine of animals that consumed contaminated feed with aflatoxin B1. The carry-over from feed to milk depends on many factors, ranging from 0.3 to 6.2%. Aflatoxin M1 is in the first group of carcinogens according to the IRAC classification from 2002, but it is considered to have only 10% of carcinogenicity from its precursor aflatoxin B1. Legislation in member countries of European Union for this mycotoxin in milk intended for people is 0.05 μg/l, while the rest of the countries that also have legislation for this mycotoxin allow the concentration that is ten times higher, and that is 0.5 μg/l. In this paper, we have tried to provide on insight into the quality of milk, food often consumed by children, from the standpoint of mycotoxicology, and to compare the obtained data with data available from literature, from countries in the region that have similar climatic and agricultural conditions. From a total of 65 samples of processed milk, aflatoxin M1 was found in 18 samples and none of the samples exceeded the level of 0.05 μg/l, which is allowed by the legislation of the European Union

The use of the two different mycotoxin deactivators in the nutrition of dairy cows

Ovo istraživanje je provedeno kako bi se ispitao učinak dva različita komercijalna proizvoda za deaktivaciju mikotoksina u hranidbi mliječnih krava. Istraživanje je provedeno na 18 mliječnih krava u različitoj fazi laktacije, s prosječnom proizvodnjom od 14 L mlijeka dnevno. Hranidba krava sastojala se od 8 kg koncentrata hrane, 10 kg smjese graška i pšenice, 4 kg sijena lucerne i slame žitarica davane ad libitum. Prije početka provedbe istraživanja, sve komponente obroka analizirane su na prisutnost aflatoksina B1, a mlijeko je ispitano na prisutnost aflatoksina M1. U prvoj fazi pokusa krave su hranjene krmom koja je sadržavala aflatoksin B1 u koncentraciji od 5±0,9 µg/kg, što je rezultiralo koncentracijom aflatoksina M1 od 181±3,5 ng/kg u mlijeku. U drugoj fazi pokusa u krmni obrok je dodano 0,5 % komercijalnog proizvoda 1 (Neozel®) te je nakon razdoblja adaptacije određivana koncentracija aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku. U trećoj fazi pokusa u krmnu smjesu je dodano 0,3 % komercijalnog proizvoda 2 (miko-Stop®) te je također nakon razdoblja adaptacije određivana koncentracija aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku. Posljednja faza bila je kontrolna faza u kojoj su krave hranjene krmivom koje je sadržavalo aflatoksin B1 (5 µg/kg) bez dodanih deaktivatora mikotoksina. Korištenje oba komercijalna proizvoda tijekom deset dana rezultiralo je smanjenjem koncentracije aflatoksina M1 za 35,9 %, odnosno 53,6 %.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different commercial products for mycotoxin deactivation in the dairy cows’ nutrition. The research was done on the 18 dairy cows in the different phase of lactation, with the average production of 14 L of milk per day. The diet contained in average 8 kg of concentrate feed, 10 kg of mixed peas and wheat forage, 4 kg hay of alfalfa and cereal straw ad libitum. Before starting the trials all components of the cows’ ration were analysed for the presence of aflatoxin B1, while cow’s milk was analysed for the presence of aflatoxin M1. In the first phase of the trial cows were fed diet containing aflatoxin B1 at level of 5±0.9 µg/kg, which resulted in the average aflatoxin M1concentration of 181±3.5 ng/kg in the milk. In the second phase of the trail 0.5% of the commercial product 1 (Neozel®) was added into the feed ration of cows and after the period of adaptation, the aflatoxin M1 concentration in milk was measured. In the third phase of the trail 0.3% of the commercial product 2 (miko-Stop 0.3®) was added into the feed ration of cows and also, after the period of adaptation, the concentration of aflatoxin M1 in milk was measured. The last phase was the control phase in which cows were fed diets with aflatoxin B1 (5 µg/kg) without added mycotoxin deactivators. The use of both commercial products for ten days resulted in the reduction of aflatoxin M1 levels for 35.9% and 53.6%, respectively

Aflatoksin M1 u sirovom mlijeku u regiji Vojvodine

Aflatoxin М1 was in the spotlight of public attention in Serbia and in the region in 2013 due to high level of this mycotoxin found in milk and milk products. Maximum allowed concentration of aflatoxin M1 in milk by EU regulation is 50 ng/kg, while in the Republic of Serbia, allowed concentration by the current regulation is 250 ng/kg. During seven months period, from May to November, samples of raw milk were being taken from six farms, with 60 to 330 cows, from the region of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, the Republic of Serbia, for the purpose of monitoring the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and its variation during this period. The highest level of 39.8 ng/kg was found in November, while the mean value for the whole period was 7.9 ng/kg. None of the samples had higher level of this mycotoxin than allowed by EU regulation or by current legislation of the Republic of Serbia. The second group of samples included a total of 38 samples of raw milk, from the period of October and November, were taken from different producers from the region of Vojvodina and analyzed on the occurrence of aflatoxin M1. In this group of samples, the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 was much higher, with the average value of 230 ng/kg. The highest found value was 864 ng/kg. In 13 samples, the aflatoxin M1 content was higher than the allowed by the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, while in 24 (63.2 %) samples determined concentration exceeded the value allowed by EU regulation. Data from this work suggest huge differences in the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk between the producers in this region. Regular monitoring is necessary to avoid situation with the elevated level of aflatoxin M1 in milk. This measure will protect both the consumers and the producers of milk and milk product.Aflatoksin M1 je bio u središtu pozornosti javnosti u Srbiji ali i u regiji u 2013. godini, zbog visoke razine u mlijeku i mliječnim proizvodima. Najveća je dopuštena koncentracija aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku po propisu EU 50 ng/kg, dok je u Republici Srbiji dopuštena koncentracija prema važećem propisu 250 ng/kg. Uzorci sirovog mlijeka prikupljani su sa šest gospodarstava, sa 60 do 330 krava, s područja Autonomne Pokrajine Vojvodine, Republike Srbije, kontinuirano tijekom sedam mjeseci razdoblja (od svibnja do studenog), u svrhu praćenja pojave aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku i njegova promjena u tom razdoblju. Najviša razina 39,82 ng/kg pronađena je u studenome, dok je srednja vrijednost za cijelo razdoblje bila 7,94 ng/kg. Nijedan od svih uzoraka nije imao višu razinu ovog mikotoksina od razine dopuštene propisom EU ili važećem propisu Republike Srbije. Druga skupina uzoraka, ukupno 38 uzoraka sirovog mlijeka, iz razdoblja listopad/ studeni, uzeto je od različitih proizvođača iz regije Vojvodine i analizirano na pojavu aflatoksina M1. U ovoj skupini uzoraka pojava aflatoksina M1 bila je znatno veća, s prosječnom vrijednošću od 230 ng/kg i najvišom utvrđenom od 864 ng/kg. U 13 (34,27 %) uzoraka utvrđena je koncentracija aflatoksina M1 veća od dopuštene po zakonodavstvu Republike Srbije, dok su u 24 (63,16%) uzorka utvrđene koncentracije prelazile vrijednosti dopuštene propisom EU. Podaci ovog rada ukazuju na velike razlike u pojavi aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku između proizvođača u ovoj regiji. Redovito praćenje je potrebno da bi se izbjegle situacije s povišenom razinom aflatoksina M1 u mlijeku, te da se zaštite i potrošači i proizvođači mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) as the Biomonitor of Cadmium and Lead Pollution in the Republic of North Macedonia

Until the outbreak of African swine fever in almost the entire Europe and consequently in the Republic of North Macedonia (2022), the population of wild boars was in increase. The biological characteristics of this species make it suitable to be used as a bioindicator for environmental pollution. The concentrations of cadmium and lead (Cd and Pb) were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the liver of free ranging wild boars. Samples were taken from 608 animals, harvested in a period of 7 years (2016-2022), in 11 hunting locations that cover the whole territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. The mean value of Pb in the liver in all hunting areas was 0.225 mg·kg-1 wet weight with range of 0.154-0.722 mg·kg-1, while mean Cd was 0.366 mg·kg-1 and ranged from 0.177 to 0.464 mg·kg-1. A statistically significant difference in Cd was found between the hunting locations, while Pb differed between hunting years. The mean Cd concentrations were significantly higher in Pelagonisko, Krivorečansko and Ohridsko-Prespansko hunting areas than in those from Pološko hunting area, while the mean Pb values in 2019 and 2020 were significantly higher than the mean value determined in 2021. For Cd, 18.2% of the total number of samples exceeds the maximum allowed limit provided in the legislation, while for Pb it was 6.7%. The maximum mean value for Pb (0.336 mg·kg-1) was measured in 2020 and for Cd (0.449 mg·kg-1) in 2016. The mean values for Pb and Cd obtained in this study were in line with data reported for wild boar from other European countries

The European Hare (Lepus europaeus) as a Biomonitor of Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) Occurrence in the Agro Biotope of Vojvodina, Serbia

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of two heavy metals, lead and cadmium, in European hare liver samples, collected in agro biotope of northern Serbian province Vojvodina. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) do not have any biological function in the animal body; however, they can be found due to the pollution in the environment. For the purpose of this study, in 196 samples from 17 different locations hare livers were analyzed for the occurrence of lead and cadmium. All samples were taken from hares harvested during the regular hunting season. The average value for lead in all analyzed samples was 884 µg/kg fresh weight (fw), with the range 59–3700 µg/kg fw. Only samples from two locations had the average concentration of lead which was within the permitted limit by the Serbian regulation. The average cadmium level in all samples was 243 µg/kg fw. The range of all samples was from 0 to 1414 µg/kg fw. Our research indicates that out of two investigated heavy metals, the occurrence of lead is more common and at a higher concentration in the agricultural development region of Vojvodina

Aflatoxin in Maize Silage Collected from AP Vojvodina, Serbia

The aim of this work was to investigate aflatoxin (AF) occurrence in maize silage samples from 2017 harvest. In total, 30 samples of maize silage (whole plant) for nutrition of milking cows were inspected for AF occurrence. The samples originated from three regions (Bačka, Banat and Srem) in autonomous province (AP) of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia (10 samples collected from each region). In AP Vojvodina, overall AF presence was 67% with its levels ranged from 3.52 to 24.64 µg/kg. Levels were standardized to 12% moisture content in all samples. Regarding each region, the highest presence was observed in Srem (80%) followed by Banat (70%), while the lowest presence was found in Bačka region (50%). However, the average AF contamination levels were not correlated to its presence. The highest AF level of 12.76 µg/kg (ranged from 6.16 to 24.64 µg/kg) was found in Srem region, whereas its lowest level was observed in Banat region (average of 4.40 µg/kg, ranged from 3.52 to 5.28 µg/kg). In the region of Bačka the average AF level was 8.45 µg/kg. Despite high presence, none of the samples contained AF above maximum level set by Serbian regulation (30 µg/kg), while 2 samples from Srem region exceeded the EU maximum level of 20 µg/kg. These results may be a result of warm and dry weather conditions during summer months of 2017, that prevailed on almost entire territory of AP Vojvodina