Abstract
Most laboratory animals, with the exception of the mouse, are readily killed by the aflatoxins. Following the administration of aflatoxin B1 to the rat, the species most extensively studied, the main lesions are seen in the liver, while kidney and adrenals show damage. The other aflatoxins are less toxic to the the rat and duckling. Aflatoxin M1 is similar to B1 in its acute toxicity. The acute toxicities may be modified by the nutritional state of the animal. A marginal choline diet affords protection from the hepatotoxic action B1. The aflatoxins are widely recognized as being carcinogenic for many species. In the rat B1 induces hepatic carcinoma at levels of 15 ppb in the diet. G1 is less carcinogenic for the rat liver, but also induces renal carcinoma. Aflatoxin M1 has been shown to induce carcinoma in trout liver but feeding trials in rats have been unsuccessful in inducing neoplasia. Neoplasms at sites other than the liver have been induced by the aflatoxins. The ‘mycotoxin hypothesis’ for the etiology of human hepatic carcinoma has not been conclusively demonstrated although the circumstantial evidence to support the hypothesis is increasing. Some control measures employed to control the hazards of mvcotoxins are justified and warrant further investigation.
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