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PubMed1982

Toxicology of aflatoxin B1, warfarin, and cadmium in young pigs: clinical chemistry and blood coagulation.

The purpose of this experiment was to compare the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and warfarin in pigs and to determine whether these have an additive effect in these pigs fed dietary Cd. Cadmium was provided daily through the diets of 2 concentrations (0 or control, and 83 micrograms/g of diet) during the 40 days of the experiment. At the start of the 5th week, AFB1 and warfarin were given in 5 daily doses (each dose 0.2 mg/kg of body weight) and the effects were determined for 10 days (starting with the 1st treatment day). Aflatoxin B1 given to the pigs fed the control diet (0 Cd) was toxic, inducing significantly increased alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities and the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and significantly decreased values in serum total protein, alpha-globulin, beta-globulin, gamma-globulin, and fibrinogen. There was no effect on blood urea nitrogen. The treatment with warfarin was more effective in producing earlier and significantly longer PT and APTT. In the pigs fed the diet with the added Cd, differences in activity of alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase values, but not blood urea nitrogen, as well as differences in intensity and duration of response in PT and APTT occurred when pigs were dosed daily for 5 days after AFB1 or warfarin. It is concluded that dietary Cd (83 micrograms/g of diet) in young pigs has an inhibitory effect on AFB1 toxicity and an enhancing synergistic effect with warfarin.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed1966

Toxic factors of mould origin.

The chemistry and effects of mycotoxins associated with human and animal foodstuffs are reviewed. The aflatoxins, metabolites of Aspergillus flavus, have been implicated in fatal diseases of farm stock fed on infected peanut cake. Muscarine and the phalloidins are the causative agents in mushroom poisoning. Lysergic acid alkaloids are involved in ergotism. "Yellow rice" toxicity arises from infection with Penicillium islandicum, the active principles being islanditoxin and luteoskyrin. Various species of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium have been linked with other mycotoxicoses and their metabolites characterized. Several fungal metabolites are active hepatotoxins or carcinogens, and the possible etiological significance of mouldy foods is briefly considered, especially in relation to the high incidence of tropical liver disease. Better agricultural practices and more stringent testing to control and detect fungal contamination are advocated.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed2006

Determination of aflatoxin B1 in tiger nut-based soft drinks.

An analytical method for the determination of aflatoxin B1 in a tiger nut-based soft drinks named 'horchata' is described. The method is based on an immunoaffinity clean-up, followed by HPLC separation and fluorescence detection after electrochemical post-column derivatization. The detection limit (S/N = 3) and the quantification limit (S/N = 10) were 0.02 and 0.06 microg kg(-1), respectively. The mean recovery at a level of 2 microg l(-1) was 88% (n = 6) and the coefficient of variation was 9%. The method was applied to conduct a small market survey for a beverage named 'horchata' that is frequently consumed by parts of the population in Southern Europe. Twenty-two samples from Spanish and Belgian supermarkets were analysed. As a result, only one sample was found to contain aflatoxin B1 at the limit of quantitation of the method.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2006

Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in retail milk samples from Bogotá, Colombia.

A study was conducted to establish the occurrence and levels of contamination of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in retail milk from Bogotá, Colombia. A total of 241 samples were analysed during 2004 and 2005. Samples were cleaned up by an immunoaffinity column and AFM1 was quantified by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A total of 69.2 and 79.4% of the samples analysed during 2004 and 2005, respectively, were found to contain levels of AFM1 above 10 ng l(-1). Levels of contamination ranged from 10.7 to 213.0 ng l(-1) in 2004, and from 10.6 to 288.9 ng l(-1) in 2005. Despite the high incidence of AFM1 found in the milk samples analysed, all samples complied with current local regulations, which allow AFM1 content in milk up to 400 ng l(-1). However, due to the high incidence of AFM1 in milk found in the present study, it is recommended that a permanent surveillance programme be established for milk consumed in Bogotá in order to prevent milk lots containing levels above the regulatory level entering the food chain.

Aflatoxin M1↗
PubMed2006

A simple steady-state model for carry-over of aflatoxins from feed to cow's milk.

A simple steady-state model is derived from two kinetic one-compartment models for the disposition of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the lactating cow. The model relates daily intake of AFB1 in feed of dairy cattle and the cow's lactation status to resulting concentrations of AFM1 in milk. Moreover, assuming a linear relationship between the cow's lactation status and feed intake, the model relates daily milk production and AFB1 concentration in total feed to AFM1 levels in milk. The model explains similar experimental outcomes from different investigations into carry-over of aflatoxins from feed to milk. Although it is difficult to set a permanent limit for AFB1 in feed, the European Union (EU) limit of 5 microg AFB1 kg(-1) concentrate has proved, thus far, to be an appropriate level in preventing the EU limit of 0.05 microg AFM1 kg(-1) milk being exceeded.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of the toxicity of the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T-2 toxin in game birds. II. Ringneck pheasant.

Ringneck pheasants were fed diets containing 1.25, 2.5, or 5 ppm aflatoxin; 1, 2, or 4 ppm ochratoxin A (OA); or 4, 8, or 16 ppm T-2 toxin. Severe toxin-induced mortality was seen during the first to third weeks with 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin (92.5% and 97.5%, respectively), compared with the mortality in control pheasants fed no toxin (0%). Slight mortality (less than or equal to 5%) was seen with OA and T-2 toxin. Body weights were significantly decreased by the lowest level (1.25 ppm) of aflatoxin by 2 weeks of age, by the two highest levels of aflatoxin by 1 week of age, and by 16 ppm T-2 toxin by 1 week of age. The feed-conversion ratio was increased by 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin compared with the feed-conversion ratio in controls, although high mortality may have influenced the results. Aflatoxin had no effect on liver weight, but OA increased kidney weight in 3-week-old pheasants. Mouth lesions were seen in some of the pheasants fed T-2 toxin.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1976

Naturally occuring mutagens.

Naturally occurring mutagens have usually been discovered as a result of outbreaks of disease in agricultural livestock, or as a result of epidemiological studies of cancer of the liver in man. Subsequent work has then shown that the toxic agents responsible often have mutagenic properties. Examples are the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, cyasin, a range of mycotoxins produced by various fungi, and at least two unidentified toxic agents in bracken. Commonly the toxic agent itself does not show high biological activity, but after ingestion it is converted by metabolic processes into the active mutagen or carcinogen. Some of these toxic substances have been responsible for considerable losses of agricultural livestock and therefore are of economic significance. From the view-point of genetic hazards to man, the most significant compounds are probably the mycotoxins, e.g. aflatoxin, because of the common risk of fungal contamination of food, especially in tropical regions. No information is yet available on the effects of these mutagens on natural populations of animals. Plants containing the pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found in areas of Africa and the Middle East where plagues of the migratory locust occur. Although it is known that some of the alkaloids can induce chromosomal damage in grasshoppers, whether such damage ever becomes a significant factor under ecological conditions is not known. In some cases, insects have not only evolved resistance towards mutagenic alkaloids but have become dependent on them for certain purposes. The males of certain Danaid butterflies feed on plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. After ingestion, the alkaloids are metabolised to dihydropyrrolizine derivatives, which are then secreted on special organs (hair pencils) and, following dissemination into the atmosphere, act as pheromones for the stimulation of mating behaviour.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1977

[Methods for assessing permissible levels of intentional and unintentional food additives (author's transl)].

Foods may contain intentional and unintentional additives. The former group includes, for example, flavours, colouring substances and preservatives, while the latter includes pesticides and mycotoxins. To determine the amount of these substances that are admissible in man, extensive toxicological tests have to be performed with experimental animals to establish a no toxic effect level. Based on the no toxic effect level and applying a safety factor an "acceptable daily intake" (ADI) can be calculated for human beings. The problems outlined in the article are illustrated by several examples, such as the presence of DDT and aflatoxin M1 in milk and of mercury in fish.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed2006

Echium vulgare and Senecio vulgaris poisoning in fighting bulls.

An unusual case of poisoning by simultaneous ingestion of Echium vulgare L. and Senecio vulgaris L. in a herd of Spanish fighting bulls is described. Ten animals died from a herd of 700 in an area located in Sierra Norte, Seville (Constantina) in Spain. The interest of this case lies both in the breed affected (this is the first report on fighting bulls) and the lack of information about bovine poisoning by these plants in Spain. Animal samples were obtained from October to March. All the dead animals were 1 year old and had grazed at the farm. The diagnosis was made by determining the plant species and studying its distribution in the pastureland, and also by performing blood analysis of the sick animals in addition to an anatomopathological study of the carcasses. Tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, IBR/BVD and also the presence of aflatoxins in the forage were all ruled out.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Are mycotoxins in food a health hazard?].

The effects of mycotoxins are well known since antiquity. Modern trace analysis show the wide prevalence of mycotoxins in the food chain. Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin), zearalenone, fumonisins (FB1, FB2) and ochratoxin A are the most important mycotoxins world wide. Foods of plant origin are normally contaminated more frequently and in higher concentrations than food of animal origin. The mean concentrations of mycotoxins analysed in European foods can be assed as low. This may be one reason why acute poisonings are rare incidences and why the limits of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) levels are exceeded only very seldom; however the population group "infant" exceed the preliminary TDI-level for trichothecenes. The consequences of a chronic intake of low amounts of mykotoxins is hardly to assess. A participation of the aflatoxins in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer is considered as certain. Other coherence between the dietary intake of mycotoxins and specific clinical symptoms of man are not convincingly shown till now.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed2005

Aflatoxin B1 binding by a mixture of Lactobacillus and Propionibacterium: in vitro versus ex vivo.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB) is a well-known carcinogen and reducing its bioavailability is of great interest for human and animal health. Several probiotic bacteria are able to bind AFB1 in vitro, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC-705 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii JS. A mixture of these two probiotics is used by the food and feed industry as biopreservative (Bioprofit), making it a promising candidate for future applications. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the in vitro and ex vivo ability of this probiotic mixture to bind AFB1. For in vitro experiments, probiotic mixture was suspended in an AFB1 solution (5 microM), incubated for 1 to 30 min, centrifuged, and AFB1 residues were quantitated in supernatant and pellet. For ex vivo experiments, duodenal loops of chicks were ligated and injected with either AFB1 solution alone or probiotic mixture suspension and AFB1 solution. Lumen content was centrifuged and AFB1 was quantitated in supernatant and pellet. Additionally, AFB1 was extracted from duodenal tissue to calculate tissue uptake. In vitro, 57 to 66% of AFB1 was removed from the solution by the probiotic mixture, but only 38 to 47% could be extracted from the bacterial surface. In ex vivo experiments, only up to 25% of AFB1 was bound by bacteria, and tissue uptake of AFB1 was significantly reduced when probiotic bacteria were present in the duodenal loop. Furthermore, the effect of intestinal mucus on the bacterial binding ability was investigated in vitro and was found to significantly reduce AFB1 binding by the probiotic mixture. However, probiotic mixture could only retard but not prevent AFB1 absorption in duodenal loops. Further work needs to assess the potential of probiotics in different experimental setups.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of the toxicity of the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T-2 toxin in game birds. III. Bobwhite and Japanese quail.

Bobwhite and Japanese quail were fed diets containing 1.25, 2.50, or 5.00 ppm aflatoxin; 1, 2, or 4 ppm ochratoxin A (OA); or 4, 8, or 16 ppm T-2 toxin. Aflatoxin induced mortality in bobwhites during the second and third week with 1.25 ppm (10%), 2.50 ppm (30%), and 5.00 ppm (40%), and during the same period with T-2 toxin at 8 ppm (20%) and 16 ppm (22.5%). Body weights of bobwhite quail were significantly decreased by the two higher levels of aflatoxin by 2 weeks of age, and by the two higher levels of T-2 toxin by 1 week of age. In Japanese quail, only the highest level of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin reduced body weight (by 3 weeks and by 1 week of age, respectively), and even then to a much lesser extent than in bobwhites (less than 10%). Aflatoxin did not affect feed-conversion ratio (FCR) in bobwhite quail, but the two higher levels of T-2 toxin increased FCR. None of the toxins induced mortality or increased the FCR in Japanese quail. Aflatoxin increased liver weight in both bobwhite and Japanese quail. OA increased kidney weight in 3-week-old Japanese quail but had no effect on the kidney weight of bobwhite quail. Mouth lesions were progressively more severe in bobwhite quail fed increasing levels of T-2 toxin, but lesions were far less severe in Japanese quail.

Aflatoxins↗