DefinePK

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine the levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the poultry finished feed samples collected from different poultry farms and local markets of Lahore, Pakistan. This study was conducted from July 2009 to June 2012 with each year divided into three periods i.e. July-October (hot and humid), November-February (winter) and March-June (moderate). During each period 80 samples were analyzed by competitive direct-Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent assay (CD-ELISA) constituting a total of 720 samples throughout the study. The levels of AFB1 in poultry feed samples were highest during rainy seasons (48.2±20.0, 51.6±22.6 and 46.0±19.8 µg/kg) followed by Mar-Jun (29.9±10.4, 27.2±9.72 and 28.8±13.1 µg/kg) and Nov-Feb (19.7±6.30, 16.3±6.76 and 17.1±6.20 µg/kg). The levels were below maximum tolerable levels (MTL) for poultry as recommended by US-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) i.e. 20µg/kg during winter seasons only. The highest level during this study was 119.2µg/kg in Jul-Oct (2010-11). Percentage of samples below MTL was minimum during rainy season and at the peak during winter season confirming a high production of AFB1 in stored feed during rainy season compared to other seasons. Poultry feed becomes highly contaminated with AFB1 during rainy season due to high humidity and hot atmosphere which gives best favorable conditions for the growth of different storage fungi. This is the first most extensive study of levels of AFB1 from poultry finished feed samples collected from different areas of Lahore (Pakistan).