Responses of Dairy Calves to Oral Doses of Aflatoxin

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Seven pairs of young male dairy calves received daily oral doses of aflatoxin from 0 to .10 mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks. The experiment was divided into 6 weeks of pretreatment and 6 weeks of aflatoxin dosing. Analysis was by least squares analysis of variance. Differences (P < .01) for dose and dose X period inter- action were shown for a reduction of feed intake, weekly gain, serum carotene, and for an increase of serum alkaline phos- phatase. Differences (P < .01) for dose X period interaction were also shown for an increase of total bilirubin and a decrease of serum inorganic phosphorus. Serum vitamin A was decreased (P < .05) by dosing with a (P < .05) dose X period interaction. Most of these aflatoxin- induced effects occurred by the second week of treatment and at .08 and .10 mg doses. At postmortem livers appeared light tan to orange and gall bladders were en- larged to 10 times normal. Liver tissue showed bile duct proliferation at .04 mg and above. Fibroblastic proliferation, dilated intralobular lymphatic ducts, peri- vascular edema, and edema around the neck of the gall bladders was evident. Histochemieal determination of alkaline phosphatase was not indicative of hepatic cell damage or obstructive jaundice. At aflatoxin doses .08 and .10 mg, glycogen deposits appeared only in regenerating liver cells. Responses of young male dairy canes to aflatoxin contaminated feed and oral doses of crude toxin are similar.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: