Evaluating the influence of alfatoxin M1 on Piglets health

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs) are one of the most investigated groups of mycotoxins, which can be found as contaminants in different types of food and feed. Pigs are exposed to AFs mainly through the consumption of contaminated feed. Among AFs, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is excreted into the milk of lactating animals and may have influence on the piglet‘s health. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible negative influence on piglets health of AFM1 detected in sows‘ milk, originating from animals bred in the Vojvodina Province. In the study, in total 110 samples of sows‘ milk derived from 11 swine farms were examined. The milk samples were analysed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Ridascreen®Aflatoxin M1 (Art. No. R1121) test kit (R-Biopharm, Germany). Also, in clinically diseased and died piglets, bacteriological testing was applied on rectal swabs and different tissue samples. In the period 2013/14 year, different levels of AFM1 were detected in the majority (97%) of the examined milk samples. The obtained results showed AFM1 levels ranging from 5 to 165.4 ng/L. In the different farms, the clinical signs and gross pathology findings in piglets, supported with bacteriological testing suggested the presence of intestinal infections, which do not reply to applied antimicrobial therapy. The achieved results support the existence of possible positive interaction between the AFM1 and causative agents of enteric bacterial piglet‘s infective diseases.