Aflatoxicosis in nine dogs after exposure to contaminated commercial dog food.

The purpose of this study was to characterize light and electron microscopic findings from 9 dogs that had consumed aflatoxin-contaminated commercial dog food from recalled batches. Four dogs died and 5 were euthanized after signs of liver failure. Analysis of feed and liver samples confirmed exposure to aflatoxin. Of the 9 dogs, 8 had classic signs of liver failure, and 1 had signs of liver failure. Enlarged, pale yellow livers were seen macroscopically at necropsy in the dogs with subacute hepatopathy, and cirrhosis was noted in the dog with chronic hepatopathy. Histopathologic findings included hepatic lipidosis, portal fibroplasia, and biliary hyperplasia, which supported a diagnosis of subacute toxic hepatopathy in the 8 symptomatic animals. Marked lobular atrophy, bridging portal fibrosis, and regenerative hepatocellular nodules characterized the dog with chronic hepatopathy. Electron microscopy revealed marked hepatocellular lipid vacuolation and early fibroplasia in the dogs with acute hepatopathy and marked fibrosis and regeneration in the dog with chronic hepatopathy. Analysis of feed for aflatoxin consistently revealed high levels of aflatoxin B1 (range of 223-579 ppb), and hepatic tissue contained elevated levels of aflatoxin B1 metabolite M1 (0.6-4.4 ppb). Although dogs are not commonly affected by aflatoxicosis, they are highly susceptible and can present with classic signs of acute or chronic hepatopathy. Characteristic gross, histologic, and electron microscopic changes help pathologists determine a presumptive toxic insult. Detecting aflatoxins or their metabolites in feed or liver specimens can help confirm the diagnosis of aflatoxicosis.     

Aflatoxicosis in feeder cattle

Aflatoxicosis was diagnosed as the cause of deaths in a group of crossbred feeder steers. Corn used in the ration being fed the steers was found to be contaminated with 1,500 ng of aflatoxin/g. Residues of the mycotoxin were detected in kidney tissue, and microscopic examination of liver sections revealed lesions typical of aflatoxicosis.     

Aflatoxicosis in farm animals

Under conditions presently prevailing in the UK aflatoxicosis in farm animals, as defined in this paper, is largely confined to cattle but acute and chronic clinical liver disease is seldom if ever encountered. There is circumstantial evidence for sub-clinical and non-specific aflatoxicosis but dose-effect relationships have yet to be established, particularly at lower levels of dietary aflatoxin contamination.     

Aflatoxicosis in feedlot cattle

Aflatoxicosis was diagnosed in lightweight feedlot cattle fed aflatoxin-contaminated cottonseed or gin trash. Clinical signs of hepatic damage and death were recorded for more than 200 of the 14,000 animals in a feedlot. Aflatoxin concentration in feedlot products fed to these cattle ranged from 96 to 1,700 ng/g. Diagnosis was based on the correlation of characteristic microscopic liver lesions, high concentration of aflatoxin in cottonseed feed products, and isolation and detection of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 in urine and liver from affected calves. This report describes a large-scale outbreak of aflatoxicosis and demonstrates the need for careful quality control of feed products susceptible to aflatoxin contamination.     

猪黄曲霉毒素中毒的诊治

黄曲霉毒素是黄曲霉寄生于玉米等植物种子后产生的一种代谢产物,能耐120℃,30分钟高热。9—10月份玉米收获季节,恰逢阴雨连绵,玉米多发霉烂,家畜采食中毒后临床上呈明显的神经症状。现将当地1病例情况报告如下。     

家禽黄曲霉毒素中毒的诊治要点

1 临床症状 黄曲霉毒素中毒病对雏鸡的敏感性较高,多呈急性经过,常发生于2～6周龄,1周龄内也时有发生,而且死亡率很高.病雏表现为嗜睡,食欲减退,体重减轻;羽翼下垂,脱毛;呼吸困难、张口喘息,时有呼噜声和尖叫声;腹泻,排出混有血液的粪便或者黄绿色稀粪;冠髯苍白,精神不振,步态不稳,共济失调,肌肉痉挛,角弓反张,很快死亡.成年禽多呈慢性经过,消瘦、贫血,生产能力下降,产蛋率和孵化率降低,死亡率升高,多呈零星死亡.     

Aflatoxicosis in Iowa swine: eight cases (1983-1985)

During 1983, 1984, and 1985, aflatoxicosis was diagnosed in 8 Iowa swine herds after the herds were fed corn from the 1983 corn crop. As a result of the diagnosis, the associated environmental conditions, clinical signs of aflatoxicosis, macroscopic and microscopic lesions, aflatoxin concentrations detected in feeds, and management of affected swine were reviewed. Concentrations of aflatoxin in shelled corn and complete feed were as high as 2,020 ng and 1,200 ng of aflatoxin (B1 and B2)/g of feed, respectively. Clinical signs of aflatoxicosis included decreased feed consumption and weight loss. Some pigs died acutely, but death often was preceded by a period of clinical disease. Greater morbidity and mortality were observed in swine herds that consumed greater concentrations of aflatoxin.     

Efficacy of Montmorillonite Clay (NovaSil PLUS) for Protecting Full-Term Broilers from Aflatoxicosis

Contamination of poultry feeds by aflatoxin is a problem faced by poultry producers at one time or another. Of the several strategies used to reduce the economic effect of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds, the inclusion of selective enterosorbents may be the most practical and cost effective. This study evaluated the effectiveness of montmorillonite clay (MC) supplied as NovaSil PLUS on the performance of full-term commercial type broilers. Eight hundred male commercial broiler chickens (all vaccinated for Marek's disease, Newcastle disease, and bronchitis) were randomly assigned, (20 each) to 40 floor pens and fed 1 of the 4 dietary treatments of industry-type corn-soy broiler diets. Treatments consisted of a control feed, control feed plus 0.5% MC (CMC), a feed containing ˜4,000 ppb aflatoxin (AF), and a feed containing ˜4,000 ppb aflatoxin plus 0.5% MC (AMC). The starter diet was fed for 3 wk, the grower for 2 wk and, the finisher for 1 wk. Selected birds were randomly retained for specific tissue analyses of blood serum; relative liver, spleen, and kidney weights; and histological examination of sampled organs.The combined data showed that birds fed MC as NovaSil PLUS received significant protection against the effects of the aflatoxin for most parameters measured. This level of protection did not totally protect the birds from the effects of feeding extremely high concentrations of aflatoxin, however, as their performance was not as good as that of the control group. To our knowledge this is the first study addressing the protective effects of MC in full-term broilers fed steam-pelleted feeds more nearly approximating commercial production.     

Retinol Values in the Plasma of the Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius) and the Influence of Aflatoxicosis

The normal values are reported of the concentration of vitamin A (retinol) in the plasma of 44 male and female adult camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates. The concentrations of the vitamin in the plasma of eight camels of both sexes afflicted with aflatoxicosis were also determined. The mean concentration (±SD) of the vitamin in healthy camels was 460.1±49.3 ng/L. Sex had no significant effect on the concentration of the vitamin. Camels with aflatoxicosis had a mean concentration of retinol in the plasma of 243.4±32.3 ng/L. The concentrations of aflatoxins in the liver and ruminal contents of these animals were 18.2±1.3 and 243.4 g/kg, respectively.     

Aflatoxicosis chemoprevention by probiotic Lactobacillius and lack of effect on the major histocompatibility complex

Turkeys are extremely sensitive to aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) which causes decreased growth, immunosuppression and liver necrosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether probiotic Lactobacillus, shown to be protective in animal and clinical studies, would likewise confer protection in turkeys, which were treated for 11 days with either AFB₁ (AFB; 1 ppm in diet), probiotic (PB; 1 × 10¹¹ CFU/ml; oral, daily), probiotic + AFB₁ (PBAFB), or PBS control (CNTL). The AFB₁ induced drop in body and liver weights were restored to normal in CNTL and PBAFB groups. Hepatotoxicity markers were not significantly reduced by probiotic treatment. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes BG1 and BG4, which are differentially expressed in liver and spleens, were not significantly affected by treatments. These data indicate modest protection, but the relatively high dietary AFB₁ treatment, and the extreme sensitivity of this species may reveal limits of probiotic-based protection strategies.     

通过表观和组织病理学检测评估酵母葡配甘露聚糖对肉鸡黄曲霉毒素中毒的解毒效果

1．我们评估了酵母葡配甘露聚糖（霉可吸），在日粮中添加0．5和1g／kg，在减轻2mg黄曲霉毒素／kg日粮对1至21日龄生长肉鸡的不利影响方面的效果。2．240只公肉鸡（罗斯-308）分成6个处理组[对照组，黄曲霉毒素（AF）处理组，酵母葡配甘露聚糖（YG；0．5g／kg）处理组，AF加YG（0．5g／kg）处理组，YG处理组（1g／kg），和AF加YG（1g／kg）处理组]。3．每个处理组屠宰10R肉鸡，进行肝脏、法氏囊、胸腺、脾脏和肾脏病理学检测。4．黄曲霉毒素处理造成肝脏实质细胞和肾脏管状上皮细胞中度至重度的水肿／脂肪性退化，法氏囊、胸腺和脾脏的小囊损失。5．在含黄曲霉毒素的日粮中添加0．5和1g／kg的酵母葡配甘露聚糖，分别轻度地和中度地减轻了病理变化的严重性。与黄曲霉毒素处理组相比，1g／kg酵母葡配甘露聚糖处理组受影响的器官的数量也有下降。6．试验结果表明酵母葡配甘露聚糖有效降低了黄曲霉毒素对病理变化的不利影响，而且高浓度的酵母葡配甘露聚糖（1g／kg）比低浓度（0．5g／kg）更有效，并且其本身没有任何负面影响。