Clinical and pathologic changes in acute bovine aflatoxicosis: rumen motility and tissue and fluid concentrations of aflatoxins B1 and M1.

Effects of aflatoxin on bovine rumen motility were determined by radiotelemetric techniques. Aflatoxin altered amplitude and/or frequency of rumen contractions in steers given dosages of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 mg of aflatoxin/kg of body weight. Effects of aflatoxin on rumen motility were dose dependent. An increase in elimination time of aflatoxin from rumen contents was observed in steers given the aflatoxin dosages of 0.4 to 0.8 mg/kg. The increase in elimination time of this toxin facilitates diagnostic capabilities for detecting bovine aflatoxicosis by obtaining rumen contents for analysis for aflatoxin. Aflatoxin M1 was detected in rumen contents from steers at 2 hours after aflatoxin was administered. Thus, intraruminal metabolism of aflatoxin B1 to M1 may occur.