Toxicological effects of chronic low doses of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1-containing Fusarium moniliforme culture material in weaned piglets

The effects of chronic oral exposure (28 days) to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) were studied in weaned piglets. Six experimental groups, each comprising two neutered males and two females, were fed ad libitum with rations containing: (A) 0 mg of FB1 and 0 mg of AFB1/kg of feed (control); (B) 10 mg of FB1/kg of feed; (C) 30 mg of FB1/kg of feed; (D) 50 μg of AFB1/kg of feed; (E) 10 mg of FB1 plus 50 μg of AFB1/kg of feed; (F) 30 mg of FB1 plus 50 μg of AFB1/kg of feed. The animals were inspected twice daily and their body weight and feed consumption were recorded weekly and daily, respectively. Samples of feces and urine were collected 24 h after the start of the experiment, to check for fumonisin residues by HPLC analysis. Blood samples were drawn at the start of the experiment and after 28 days for quantification of hematological and biochemical parameters. Necropsies were performed after 28 days; at necropsy, the organs were weighed, inspected macroscopically and processed for histopathological and toxicological analyses. All piglets from groups C and F presented typical signs of pulmonary edema, with reduced feed consumption and body weight gain as well as pathological alterations. FB1 was detected in feces and urine at 24 h of intoxication and in liver after 28 days of intoxication. Increases were detected regarding the following hematological and biochemical parameters in animals from treatments C and F: erythrocyte number; hematocrit; total bilirubin; total protein; activity of serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. Cholesterol levels were significantly aumented only in animals from groups C and F, whereas albumin concentrations increased in groups C, F, B and E. The average organ/body weight ratio of piglets (hearth, liver and lung) were significantly greater in groups C and F. The only joint effects of FB1 and AFB1 detected (group F) were a decrease in feed consumption during the last week of intoxication and in feed conversion throughout the 28 days of intoxication. Chronic intoxication of piglets with AFB1 and FB1 leads to important losses of productivity.