Veterinaria

Short communication

Outbreak of aflatoxicosis on a local cattle farm in Pakistan

Sajid Umar a, Muhammad Tanveer Munir *b, Muhammad Ali Shah a, Muhammad Shahzad c, Riaz Ahmad Khan d, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Sohoo a, Asmat Ullah Khan a, Kamran Ameen a, Anum Rafia-Munir e, Farrukh Saleem b

a Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, 46300, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

b Poultry and Wildlife, National Agriculture Research Council, Pakistan

c Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

d Livestock Dairy Development Board Punjab, Pakistan

e Government College University Lahore. Pakistan

Abstract

Mycotoxins are the metabolites produced by some fungi and their consumption instigate deleterious effects on human and animals health. This report describes 45 cases of aflatoxicosis in a bovine herd, which were being fed corn rich forage. Clinical signs were anorexia, depression, photosensitization and diarrhea. Fifteen animals died and were operated for necropsy. Postmortem lesions included, hemorrhages on viscera, blood exudation from natural orifices and prolapse. Gross lesions were mainly on the hepatic portal system and generalized anasarca was evident. Laboratory culturing of feed samples showed presence of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasitticus, while the toxin level of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was as high as 33,500 ppb. In conclusion, moldy and suspected diet must be tested for aflatoxin. Differential diagnosis of aflatoxicosis requires consciousness of geographical location, past events, provender testing and clinical signs. Feed withdrawal and supportive therapy helped in the disappearance of signs and mortality. This report is first field outbreak report of aflatoxicosis in the bovine herd from Pakistan.

Keywords: Aflatoxin B1, cattle, treatment, fatty liver, hematuria, acute death

Received October 21, 2014; Revised February 18, 2015; Accepted March 04, 2015

*Corresponding author: Muhammad Ali Shah; Email: alisha521@gmail.com