Original Scientific Article
Monitoring heavy metals, mycotoxins, coccidiostats and microbial contamination in animal feed: а North Macedonia study (2018-2022)
Elizabeta Dimitrieska Stojkovikj * ,
Biljana Stojanovska Dimzoska ,
Vangelica Enimiteva ,
Ljupco Angelovski ,
Zehra Hajrulai Musliu ,
Gordana Ilievska ,
Dushica Koceva ,
Aleksandra Angeleska ,
Sandra Mojsova

Mac Vet Rev 2025; 48 (2): i - xv

10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0023

Received: 16 October 2024

Received in revised form: 26 April 2025

Accepted: 29 May 2025

Available Online First: 10 June 2025

Published on: 15 October 2025

Correspondence: Elizabeta Dimitrieska Stojkovikj, edimitrieska@fvm.ukim.edu.mk
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Abstract

Feed contamination can occur at every stage of the feed chain, including manufacturing, storage, transport, and utilization. Ensuring feed safety is fundamental for livestock health, animal performance, and food safety throughout the feed-to-food chain. The study aimed to make qualitative and quantitative assessment of microbiological and chemical hazards in animal feed in North Macedonia from 2018 to 2022. A total of 1,629 feed samples were analyzed for heavy metals,  mycotoxins, and coccidiostats, whereas 598 samples were examined for microbial contamination. The results indicate a  significant prevalence of heavy metals, with lead (Pb) detected in 100% of the samples, although mostly within regulatory  limits. Mycotoxins, notably ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), were also identified, with non-compliance in  10.88% of cattle feed for AFB1. Coccidiostat residues exceeded the maximum levels in 4.6% of the samples. Microbiological  analysis revealed that 1.34% of feed samples were contaminated with Salmonella spp., and 3.8% tested positive for sulphitereducing  clostridia. The findings on both microbiological and chemical hazards indicate their potential to threaten the feed safety chain. Accordingly, this study emphasizes the need for continuous comprehensive feed safety monitoring and the  enforcement of stringent safety regulations to safeguard animal and public health in North Macedonia.

Keywords: feed safety, contaminants, coccidiostats, microbiological hazards, North Macedonia

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©2025 Dimitrieska Stojkovikj E. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages i-xv, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0023

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.