ABSTRACT
        Background and Objective: Mycotoxins are a group of relatively resistant toxic metabolites. The most important mycotoxins are aflatoxins (B1 and B2, G1 and G2), which originate from contaminated animal feed. Dairy cattle transmit aflatoxins B1 and B2 through milk in form of aflatoxins M1 and M2, and endanger the human health. Traditional buffalo farms play an important role in the supply of dairy products in Khuzestan Province. In addition, the province has suitable conditions for the growth of various types of fungi. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the amount of aflatoxins in buffalo feed samples collected from two main suppliers of milk in the province (Ahvaz and Karun).
         Methods: Overall, 60 samples were collected during the 3 months of autumn 2014. Samples were analyzed by the sensitive and fast method of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
         Results: The concentration of aflatoxin ranged from 0.77 to 64.85 μg/Kg. In addition, the concentration of aflatoxin in 21 samples was higher than the permitted limit (25 μg/Kg).
        Conclusion: The mean concentration of aflatoxin in the samples increases with the decrease in temperature and humidity. This increase is observed in Ahvaz at a higher rate, which could be due to inappropriate storage and use of rice bran in their feed.
         Keywords: Aflatoxins,  Ahvaz, Animal Feed.

ABSTRACT
       Background and Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic infection worldwide. The infection can be caused via consumption of contaminated meat and mother-to-child (congenital) transmission, causing changes in central nervous system tissue, eye irritation and sometimes death. The human form of the disease is often asymptomatic and may be accompanied with general discomfort and swelling of the lymph nodes when associated with chorioretinitis. Acute infection in immunocompromised individuals could lead to mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in serum of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) referred to the MS Center in city of Ahvaz, southeastern Iran.
        Methods: Blood samples were taken from 100 patients with MS and 100 healthy control participants. After separating the serum, presence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG, IgM) was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
        Results: Frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG was 38% and 21% in the patients and controls, respectively. Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were not detected in any of the study groups. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant association between Toxoplasma antibodies and MS.
       Conclusion: Due to high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in MS patients, it is recommended to measure serum titers of the patients regularly, and placed them under antiparasitic therapy when necessary.
      Keywords: Toxoplasma, Multiple sclerosis, MS, Ahvaz.