Morphometric and meristic characteristics and morphological differentiation among five populations of Brown Trout Salmo truttafario (Pisces: Salmonidae) along the southern Caspian Sea basin

Eighty samples of poultry feed and feed ingredients were tested for t otal aflatoxin B (AFBs). The studied samples were included three broiler starter, broiler grower and broiler finisher feed and four feed ingredient s including maize, wheat grain, and wheat bran and soybean meal . All samples were collected from poultry farms an d poultry feed plants from northwestern region of Iran, durin g the years 2011 and 2012. Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) was used for determination of AFBs in the samples. AFBs were detected in all of tested f eed and feed ingredients and ranged from 1.0 to 40 µg/kg as average value of 5.5 µg/kg. Average concentrations of AFBs were 5.65, 11.09 and 20.72 µg/kg in broiler starter, broiler grower and broiler finisher feed, respectively. The mean value of AFBs in maize, wheat grain, and wheat bran and soybean meal was 2.35, 1.54, 3.05 and 6.01 µg/kg, respectively. In 27 percent of positive sample, the aflatoxin contamination level was higher than the legal limit imposed in many countries and European Union. The r esults of this study showed the high incidence of a flatoxin contamination in all feed and feed ingredient sampl es and high contamination level of AFBs in poultry feed. The results warrants the need for surveillance and cons tant monitoring programs for the prevention of the sanitary impacts of these substances and reveal consumption of contaminated feed in poultry farms poses a risk of aflatoxicosis and may put human at risk of aflatoxi n exposure