Vaccination of Lactating Dairy Cows for the Prevention of Aflatoxin B1 Carry Over in Milk.

The potential of anaflatoxin B₁ (AnAFB₁) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as a vaccine (AnAFB₁-KLH) in controlling the carry over of the aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM₁) in cow milk is reported. AFB₁ is the most carcinogenic compound in food and foodstuffs amongst aflatoxins (AFs). AnAFB₁ is AFB₁ chemically modified as AFB₁-1(O-carboxymethyl) oxime. In comparison to AFB₁, AnAFB₁ has proven to be non-toxic in vitro to human hepatocarcinoma cells and non mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium strains. AnAFB₁-KLH was used for immunization of cows proving to induce a long lasting titer of anti-AFB₁ IgG antibodies (Abs) which were cross reactive with AFB₁, AFG₁, and AFG₂. The elicited anti-AFB₁ Abs were able to hinder the secretion of AFM₁ into the milk of cows continuously fed with AFB₁. Vaccination of lactating animals with conjugated AnAFB₁ may represent a solution to the public hazard constituted by milk and cheese contaminated with AFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]