%0 Journal Article
%T CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO AFLATOXIGENIC FUNGI RELATED TO LIVER DAMAGE IN PELT CHINCHILLAS (Chinchilla lanigera)
%A Landa MF
%A Gonz¨¢lez Pereyra ML
%A Pena G
%A Bagnis G
%J Revista Bio Ciencias
%D 2013
%I Universidad Aut¨®noma de Nayarit
%X Chinchilla pelt is a rare and expensive fur. Therefore, breeding these animals is a profitable activity. Confirmed acute cases of aflatoxin intoxication have been reported in Argentinean farms. The aims of this study were i) to evaluate mycobiota and AFB1-producing species in chinchilla feeds ii) to investigate their natural AFB1 contamination and iii) to analyze histopathological lesions in chinchilla livers. Feed samples (A: fur chinchillas, B: mother chinchillas, C: lucerne cubes) were collected from a factory and a farm. Livers of sacrificed chinchilla from the farm were macroscopically and microscopically examined. Total fungal counts of feed C exceeded 1x10 4 CFU g-1. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were the prevalent genera, while A. flavus, A. fumigatus, F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum were the prevalent species. 50 % of A. flavus strains from factory samples and 69.7 % from farm samples produced 2.78 to 8. 64 ¦Ìg g-1 and 0.66 to 58.8 ¦Ìg g-1 AFB1, respectively. Aflatoxin B1was detected only in feeds from the farm, finding the highest incidence in feed C. Toxin levels varied between 1.90 and 97.34 ¦Ìg kg-1 AFB1. Mean levels in feed A and C exceeded 20 ¦Ìg kg-1. Macroscopic examination of livers revealed normal appearance, size and color. However, histopathological examination indicated 63.3 % showed slight to moderate lipid degeneration with diffuse cytoplasm vacuolation, 9 % intense lipid cytoplasm vacuolation and 27.3 % hydropic degeneration and nuclear vacuolation in hepatocytes. A periodic monitoring of aflatoxins in feeds and their ingredients can prevent acute outbreaks and economic losses caused by chronic exposure.
%K Aflatoxins
%K Aspergillus spp.
%K Chinchilla lanigera
%K feed
%K histopathology
%K toxicology.
%U http://biociencias.uan.edu.mx/publicaciones/03-02/biociencias3-2-4.pdf