INVESTIGATION ON THE PRESENCE OF TOXIGENIC FUNGI AND AFLATOXINS IN RAW-MILK

All of the raw milk samples. obtained from the collecting stations, we re contaminated with fungi. Their total viable counts per cm(3) varied from 5 to 4x10(4). The number of colony forming units was between 100 0 and 5000 per cm(3) in 28% of the samples. The isolated fungal strain s were classified into 19 genera (Absidia, Acremonium, Aspergillus, Cl adosporium, Eurotium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Gliocladium, Monilia, Muco r, Penicillium, Phoma, Scopulariopsis, Scytalidium, Stemphilium, Trich oderma, Ulocladium and Verticillium) and 39 species. Genera Aspergillu s and Penicillium were presented with the largest number (6) of differ ent species. These moulds were isolated from 39 and 28% of raw milk sa mples, respectively. High incidence of toxigenic fungi was observed. T hey were found to be contaminants of 91% of milk samples. Toxigenic sp ecies belonged to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Eu rotium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Penicillium and Trichoderma. The most co mmon fungal species were Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium aurantiog riseum, isolated from 62 and 23% of milk samples, respectively. Aflato xin AB1 and AM1 were not found in milk.