Fungi and aflatoxin B1 in horse and dog feeds in Western Turkey

To evaluate fungi growth and aflatoxin B, contamination in horse and dog feeds, total of 41 feed samples were examined with agar plate incubation and ELISA methods. Fungi growth of the horse feed was not exceeding maximum tolerable limits (0.97 x 10(4) CFU/g). Although dog foods should not contain any fungi contamination, slightly less than half of the tested dog foods had fungi growth. Both feeds had aflatoxin B, content in allowable limits (10 mug/kg.), however, dog foods contain significantly higher aflatoxin B I content than horse feeds do (P less than or equal to 0.05) (6.69 mug/kg and 1.98 mug/kg, respectively). Fungi growth and aflatoxin B I content did not correlate in either group of feeds (r(2) = 0.09 and r(2) = 0.30, respectively). Surveilance of both fungi growth and aflatoxin contents of both types of feeds are necessary for the health of the animals.