Metabolite distribution and rate of residue clearance in Turkeys fed a diet containing aflatoxin B 1

Abstract

The retention of aflatoxin residues in tissues of turkey poults fed a diet containing aflatoxin B 1 (500 ppb) for 18 days was determined. Free and conjugated aflatoxin metabolites were quantified using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Aflatoxin residue levels were greater in liver than muscle tissues, although all levels were low (range 0.01–1.19 ng/g tissue). Free and conjugated aflatoxins B 1 and M 1, a metabolite of B 1, were the principal tissue residues. Other metabolites investigated included aflatoxicol, which was detected in certain samples, and aflatoxin Q 1 which was not detected. Conjugated aflatoxins, hydrolysed and extracted from the aqueous tissue fractions, comprised 55–91% of the total detected aflatoxin residues. All aflatoxin residues were rapidly cleared following discontinuation of the dietary aflatoxin B 1 (half-life 1.4 days for total aflatoxin clearance from liver). These results provide further evidence that tissues from animals maintained on diets containing aflatoxins do not provide a major source of aflatoxins when consumed by man.