Contamination Rate of Eggs with Mycotoxins in Mazandaran Province, Iran 2019

Background and purpose: Contamination of food with mycotoxins is among the major threats to food security, and human and animal health that cause significant economic losses in countries. This contamination is found in poultry and animal products and can pose risks to human health. Despite the mass production and consumption of egg, this product has not been well evaluated for the presence of mycotoxins. According to previous studies, there is high possibility of fungal infections and consequently production of mycotoxins in poultry feed. Here, we aimed to perform a quality control study on the safety of this product in Mazandaran province market by developing current techniques. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 45 egg samples were collected from three cities in summer 2019, during two phases. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin were extracted using appropriate solvents. In the ELISA method, the extracted samples were directly analyzed while being purified by immunoaffinity column for HPLC measurement. Results: Among the samples examined, aflatoxin G2 (0.010 to 4.726 µg/Kg) was found in 36 cases. These values are lower than maximum residue limit allowed for foods. Ochratoxin was not detected in any sample. Conclusion: According to current study, there were low levels of aflatoxin in the eggs and they can be considered as a safe food in terms of aflatoxin contamination.