Level of aflatoxin in some fish feeds from fish farming processes, feed factories and imported feeds

Aflatoxins that are toxic metabolites for human and animals were determined in some fish feed. Eighty-five unit samples taken from "fish farming processes", "feed factories" and "imported feeds" in 1998, 1999 and 2000 were analyzed. In the analysis, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique were used. Consequently, aflatoxin levels above 20 ppb were detected in 20 samples and from 21.2 to 42.4 ppb in 85 samples. In 22 samples aflatoxin levels from 5.0 to 20.0 ppb were detected. Aflatoxin 131 analysis was performed on all samples with aflatoxin levels of more than 20 ppb. Most aflatoxin consists of Aflatoxin B1 (18.4-42.4 ppm). Aflatoxin was found below detection limits in 43 samples. The effect of feed types on aflatoxin distribution was not statistically significant. However, levels of aflatoxin were higher in samples that were taken from fish farming processes than from factory or imported feed samples