A REVIEW OF AFLATOXIN M1 IN RAW MILK: IMPORTANCE ON HUMAN HEALTH AND RUMINANTS

Aflatoxin is both acutely and chronically toxic for animals and humans and can cause potentially dan-gerous diseases including acute toxic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. AFM1 contamination in dairy products or raw milk is a global problem threatening public health in all areas of the world. Despite high consumption of dairy products in Lebanon, a few credible data are available on their contamination levels with AFM1. A. flavus and A. parasiticus were identified as the organisms responsible for the elaboration of the toxin in the feed. The term Aflatoxin now refers to group of bisfuranocoumarin metabolites isolated from strains of A. flavus group of fungi. The toxic material derived from the fungus A. flavus was given the name "Aflatoxin". The contamination of feedstuffs with mycotoxins is of increasing concern as changes on agricultural practice and probably climatic changes seem to have increased the prevalence of mycotoxins contamination. Contami-nation of feeds with mycotoxins accounts for significant loss in animal husbandry, as well as undesirable trade barriers for raw materials and dairy consumable products. The aim of the present review is to outline the im-portance of raw milk contamination with AFM1 and its importance on human health and ruminants