Diagnosis | mycotoxin poisoning

Access through your institution Buy or subscribe We sent a 500-g sample of feed pooled from different bags of the same batch to an external laboratory for mycotoxin analysis. Two different

toxins, aflatoxin B1 (AB1) at 10 ppb and fusarenon-X at 500 ppb, were identified in the feed sample (Table 2). Several mold species constitute the normal microflora of agricultural crops and

products. Molds may produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins; once formed, mycotoxins persist in the product even if the molds are eliminated. Heat treatment of animal feed during

pelleting is not sufficient to degrade mycotoxins because they are relatively resistant to heat2. Aflatoxins are a family of mycotoxins generated by _Aspergillus flavus_, _A. parasiticus_

and _A. nomius_. Of the 18 varieties of aflatoxins, AB1 and aflatoxin M1 (a metabolic derivative of AB1 present in milk and urine) are the most toxic3. AB1 is metabolized in the liver,

producing highly reactive chemical intermediaries, which bind to DNA and lead to abnormal cell proliferation, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis4,5,6. Additionally, chronic low levels of AB1

cause growth and reproductive problems in cattle and poultry3. Fusarenon-X is a mycotoxin produced by _Fusarium nivale_ and _F. episharia_. We know of no studies describing the effects of

low levels of fusarenon-X in laboratory animals. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution ADDITIONAL ACCESS

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Gema Biotech for technical assistance; A. Gimeno, C.C. García Bonelli, M. Cereseto and P. Halperín for their interesting comments; ININFA husbandry staff M.

Voeffray, A. Arín and M.A. Cáceres for their constant commitment to the management of animal facilities; and Dr. E. Adler and Dr. M.C. Rubio for allocating sufficient funds and for their

generous support. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Diagnosis | Mycotoxin poisoning. _Lab Anim_ 37, 154–155 (2008).

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