Aflatoxin M 1 contamination of milk in Pakistan, like many developing countries, is poorly understood. The present study was therefore conducted to determine AFM 1 contamination of milk and its contributory factors in Pakistan. We sampled milk and feedstuffs from 450 peri-urban dairy farms in seven major cities following a cross-sectional study design. Analysis of milk using ELISA revealed high contamination with an overall average of 3164.5 ng of AFM 1 /L, and significant differences (p < 0.001) between cities. The milk sampled from Gilgit, in northern hilly areas, had an average AFM 1 level of 92.5 ng/L. Milk from other cities had 3529.7 ng/L average contamination, with only 5.7% samples qualifying the maximum tolerable limit of 500 ng of AFM 1 /L. Heavy mean aflatoxin contamination was found in bakery waste (724.6 μg/kg), and cottonseed cake (600.8 μg/kg). Rest of the other feedstuffs had moderate to low mean aflatoxin contamination, ranging from 66.0 μg/kg in maize stover to 3.4 μg/kg in wheat bran. The mean aflatoxin level in commercial dairy concentrates was 32.7 µg/kg. About 80% of the total aflatoxin intake of dairy animals was contributed by cottonseed cake alone due to its high aflatoxin contamination and proportion in dairy rations. On-farm storage time of oilseed cakes varied (p < 0.01) in different cities but was not associated with aflatoxin contamination. The exceptionally high AFM 1 contamination suggests that milk from peri-urban dairy farms is a serious public health threat in Pakistan. This situation can be mitigated by reducing aflatoxin contamination in cottonseed cake and promoting the use of commercial concentrates and other feedstuffs with low contamination.

Sesame meal (SSM) is locally available and relatively cheaper source of protein having an amino acid composition similar to that of soybean meal (SBM) with the exception of lower lysine and higher methionine contents. Despite its merits it has been under-utilized in quail’s diets. This study was conducted to examine the effects of substitution of SBM with different levels of SSM on production and economic performance of Japanese quails. One hundred eighty day-old Japanese quail chicks were randomly distributed into six experimental groups of three replicates of ten birds each replicate group was placed in a battery. Six of the Groups were given rations with different levels of SSM included; SSM–0 g (control), SSM–50 g, SSM–100 g, SSM–150 g, SSM–200 g and SSM–250 g including SSM per kg of rations. All Rations were fed ad libitum, records of initial body weight; weekly body weight gain and weights of feed offered, consumed and refused were kept. Dressing percentage was determined at the end of experiment. Results indicated that feed efficiency were not affected (P<0.05) in quails fed ration containing 50g of SSM, 100, 150 and 200 with higher (P<0.01) daily weight gain was observed in ration with SSM of 150g per kg of ration. Total feed consumption and dressing percentage were not affected. No significant difference was observed in all groups in terms of cost benefit ratio. It is concluded that SSM can be used as an alternative protein source in Japanese quail diets at inclusion levels up to 150 g/kg without negative effects on performance and carcass traits.

It’s worthy to get knowledge about the nutritional value of the food which is being consumed by people so far. Various forms of malnutrition are the reason of suffering for millions of the people in each corner of the world. Biscuits have got popularity in Pakistani culture. They are being baked locally and well-known brands are also its suppliers. Nutritional value of local biscuits is still unknown. The aim of the study was to analyze proximate value of local biscuits and branded biscuits, their comparison and determination of rancidity, AFB1 and aflatoxigenic fungi as they prevail in wheat products and peanuts. So, 16 local biscuits samples and 16 branded biscuit samples were selected for analysis. AOAC methods were used for proximate analysis, TLC for AFB1 detection. Proximate analysis showed local biscuits have following mean values for: protein 12.01%, ether extracts 26.625, crude fiber 1.25%, moisture 40.28%, and ash 0.52%. On the other hand, mean value of protein was observed 7.47%, ether extracts 22.26%, crude fiber 0.89%, moisture 2.66%, and ash 0.56% in the branded biscuits. Rancidity of branded biscuits was having mean value 0.39 mEq and locally baked biscuits were having 0.55 mEq but both were able to consume. So, it shows local biscuits are good source of nutrition and fit for consumption for all the ages. In local biscuit samples 87.5% had low contamination level and 12.50% samples had medium level. In contrast, no branded sample has crossed the permissible limit of AFB1 and aflatoxigenic fungi was detected in none of the sample.

Allele frequencies and forensic statistical parameters of 15 autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) were evaluated in 200 genetically unrelated individuals of the Baloch population of Pakistan. Total 155 alleles were observed with allele frequencies ranged from 0.003 to 0.425. Among the 15 STRs, D2S1338 was found to be the most polymorphic and discriminating locus while TPOX was the least polymorphic and discriminating locus. The combined power of discrimination (CPD), combined power of exclusion (CPE), and combined matching probability (CMP) were found to be 0.9999999999999999978, 0.999994252, and 2.14012 × 10, respectively. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was observed except for locus D21S11. Additionally, a correlation between previously published data and Baloch population is also presented.

The present study was designed to investigate the mycological contamination and aflatoxigenic potential of fungi isolated from the indigenous certified varieties of wheat. Surface spread method was used to determine mycological contamination whereas to determine the toxigenic potential of isolated fungi and screening of wheat grains for aflatoxin contamination thin layer chromatography was used. All the collected samples revealed fungal contamination however none of the fungal isolate showed aflatoxigenic potential. Similarly all the samples showed negativity for aflatoxin. It can be concluded that for human public health, cereal grains must be subjected to quality control and mycotoxicologicalexaminations.