Vaccination of lactating dairy cows for the prevention of aflatoxin B 1 carry over in milk

Abstract

The potential of anaflatoxin B 1 (AnAFB 1) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as a vaccine (AnAFB 1-KLH) in controlling the carry over of the aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) metabolite aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1) in cow milk is reported. AFB 1 is the most carcinogenic compound in food and foodstuffs amongst aflatoxins (AFs). AnAFB 1 is AFB 1 chemically modified as AFB 1-1(O-carboxymethyl) oxime. In comparison to AFB 1, AnAFB 1 has proven to be non-toxic in vitro to human hepatocarcinoma cells and non mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium strains. AnAFB 1-KLH was used for immunization of cows proving to induce a long lasting titer of anti-AFB 1 IgG antibodies (Abs) which were cross reactive with AFB 1, AFG 1, and AFG 2. The elicited anti-AFB 1 Abs were able to hinder the secretion of AFM 1 into the milk of cows continuously fed with AFB 1. Vaccination of lactating animals with conjugated AnAFB 1 may represent a solution to the public hazard constituted by milk and cheese contaminated with AFs. © 2011 Polonelli et al.