Effects of aflatoxins in young ponies.

The research investigates the impact of aflatoxins on young ponies and suggests that, although instances of toxicity were relatively rare, a potential for aflatoxin poisoning in horses exists, potentially intensified by prior exposure to the toxin.

Research Method

• Sixteen healthy ponies were split into four groups and assigned different doses of aflatoxin B1. These ranges were 0.045, 0.030, 0.015, and 0 mg/kg of body weight per day for 21 days, adding up to total doses of 0.945, 0.630, 0.315, and 0 mg/kg respectively.
• The ponies took a break to recover for three months, after which researchers assigned them to four new treatment groups for a second trial. In this trial, each group included a pony from each group of the first trial. The doses of aflatoxin they received were of 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, and 0 mg/kg per day for five days, producing total doses of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 and 0 mg/kg.
• Blood samples from ponies were taken every other day to check for signs of toxicosis. The values measured included red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration, serum urea nitrogen, prothrombin time, and serum concentrations of various enzymes.

Findings

• During the first trial, there were no significant differences found in toxicological values between the various treatment groups and the controls, who received no aflatoxin.
• However, during the second trial, two out of the ponies that received the largest dose of 2.0 mg/kg (one from the trial group who had a high exposure of 0.945 mg/kg and one from the median exposure group of 0.63 mg/kg in the first trial) displayed raised serum enzyme activities.
• The increased enzyme activities were indicative of hepatocellular toxicity. Notably, these abnormal values approached control group levels about ten days after the aflatoxin treatment ended.

Conclusion

• The research concludes that equine aflatoxicosis is possible. However, ponies given high-quality food appear to be less susceptible to aflatoxin toxicity than other species.
• Importantly, the study also infers that exposure to aflatoxins may cause an increased risk of toxicity on subsequent exposures, even if there are no apparent symptoms of toxicity during the initial exposure.