Abstract

Aflatoxicosis is a fungal borne toxicosis that may affect almost all species of livestock in India as well as abroad. Aflatoxins are major class of mycotoxins produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus i.e. most common grain mold fungi. The fungus grows on carbohydrate rich feeds such as peanuts, cottonseed, corn, sorghum and cereal grains when they are stored in hot conditions without adequate drying and aeration. Aflatoxin M1 found in milk of dairy cattle is the metabolite of Aflatoxin B1 that occurs in feed materials. Aflatoxicosis is a problem in livestock, most notably swine and cattle. Gross lesions include hepatic enlargement, congestion, yellow discoloration, and friability; petechiae or more generalized hemorrhage; and edema and ecchymotic or petechial hemorrhages of the gall bladder. Cattle are more resistant than pigs, but the typical lesions of aflatoxicosis, as described above, can be found following exposure. Fibrosis and bile duct proliferation may be extensive and found together with fibrotic veno-occlusion of the central veins. Sheep are resistant to aflatoxin.

• 1.   Abarca ML, Bragulat MR, Castellá G, Cabañes FJ. Mycoflora and aflatoxin-producing strains in animal mixed feeds. J Food Prot. 1994;57:256–8.
• 2.   Anonymous. The regulations of Turkish food codex [Turkish]. Off J. 1997;23172:124.
• 3.   Bastianello SS, Nesbit JW, Williams MC, Lang AL. Pathological findings in a natural outbreak of aflatoxicosis in dogs. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1987;54(4):635–40.
• 4.   Cheeke PR, Shull LR. Natural toxicants in feeds and poisonous plants. Westport (CT): AVI Publishing; 1985. p. 393–476.
• 5.   Cook WO, Richard JL, Osweiler GD, Trampel DW. Clinical and pathological changes in acute bovine aflatoxicosis: rumen motility and tissue and fluid concentrations of aflatoxins B1 and M1. Am J Vet Res. 1986;47(8):1817–25.
• 6.   Coulombe RA Jr. Biological action of mycotoxins. J Dairy Sci. 1993;76(3):880–91.
• 7.   Dalcero A, Magnoli C, Chiacchiera S, Palacios G, Reynoso M. Mycoflora and incidence of aflatoxin B1, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol in poultry feeds in Argentina. Mycopathologia. 1997;137(3):179–84.
• 8.   Fink-Gremmels J. Mycotoxins: their implications for human and animal health. Vet Q. 1999;21(4):115–20.
• 9.   Goldblatt LA, Kubena LF, Phillips TD. Prevention of aflatoxicosis by addition of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate to the diets of growing barrows. Am J Vet Res. 1989;50:416–20.
• 10.   Henry CW. Feed quality control for optimum bird performance. World Poult. 1996;12(10):65–7.
• 11.   Hertrampf JW. The mycotoxin hazard can be easily solved. World Poult. 1994;10(8):55–7.
• 12.   Hinton MH. Infections and intoxications associated with animal feed and forage which may present a hazard to human health. Vet J. 2000;159(2):124–38.
• 13.   Lillehoj EB, Cleveland TE, Bhatnagar D. Mycotoxins in feedstuffs: production in novel substrates. In: Smith JE, Henderson RS, editors. Mycotoxins and animal foods. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1991. p. 399–413.
• 14.   Mahmoud AL. Toxigenic fungi and mycotoxin content in poultry feedstuff ingredients. J Basic Microbiol. 1993;33(2):101–4.
• 15.   Newberne JW, Bailey WS, Seibold HR. Notes on a recent outbreak and experimental reproduction of hepatitis X in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1955;127(940):59–62.
• 16.   Newberne PM, Russo R, Wogan GN. Acute toxicity of aflatoxin B1 in the dog. Pathol Vet. 1966;3(3):331–40.
• 17.   Nilipour AH. Keeping insects and mycotoxins out of silos. World Poult. 1996;12(9):24–5.
• 18.   Park DL. Controlling aflatoxin in food and feed. Food Technol. 1993;47:92–6.
• 19.   Park DL, Lee LS, Price RL, Pohland AE. Review of the decontamination of aflatoxins by ammoniation: current status and regulation. J Assoc Off Anal Chem. 1988;71(4):685–703.
• 20.   Pier AC. Mycotoxins and animal health. Adv Vet Sci Comp Med. 1981;25:185–243.
• 21.   Pier AC. Immunomodulation in aflatoxicosis. In: Richard JL, Thurston JR, editors. Diagnosis of mycotoxicoses. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff; 1986. p. 143–8.
• 22.   Pier AC. Aflatoxicosis and immunosuppression in mammalian animals. In: Zuber MS, Lillehoj EB, Renfro BL, editors. Aflatoxin in maize: a proceedings of the workshop. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT; 1987. p. 58–69.
• 23.   Pier AC. The influence of mycotoxins on the immune system. In: Smith JE, Henderson RS, editors. Mycotoxins and animal foods. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1991. p. 489–97.
• 24.   Pier AC, McLoughlin ME. Mycotoxin suppression of immunity. In: Lacey J, editor. Trichothecenes and other mycotoxins. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1985. p. 507–19.
• 25.   Pier AC, Belden EL, Ellis JA, Nelson EB, Maki LR. Effects of cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxin singly and in combination on selected clinical, pathological and immunological responses of guinea pigs. Mycopathologia. 1989;105(3):135–42.
• 26.   Pier AC, McLoughlin ME, Richard JL, Baetz AL, Dahlgren RR. In utero transfer of aflatoxin and selected effects on neonatal pigs. In: Lacey J, editor. Trichothecenes and other mycotoxins. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1985. p. 495–506.
• 27.   Pier AC, Varman MJ, Dahlgren RR, Belden EL, Maki LR. Aflatoxic suppression of cell mediated immune response and interaction with T-2 toxin. In: Steyn PS, Vleggaar R, editors. Mycotoxins and phycotoxins. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1986. p. 423–34.
• 28.   Purwoko HM, Hald B, Wolstrup J. Aflatoxin content and number of fungi in poultry feedstuffs from Indonesia. Lett Appl Microbiol. 1991;12(6):212–5.
• 29.   Rustom IYS. Aflatoxin in food and feed: occurrence, legislation and inactivation by physical methods. Food Chem. 1997;59(1):57–67.
• 30.   Skrinjar M, Stubblefield RD, Vujicic IF, Stojanovic E. Distribution of aflatoxin-producing moulds and aflatoxins in dairy cattle feed and raw milk. Acta Microbiol Hung. 1992;39(2):175–9.
• 31.   Tapia MO, Seawright AA. Experimental combined aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A intoxication in pigs. Aust Vet J. 1985;62(2):33–7.