Metabolite distribution and rate of residue clearance in turkeys fed a diet containing aflatoxin B1.

The retention of aflatoxin residues in tissues of turkey poults fed a diet containing aflatoxin B1 (500 ppb) for 18 days was determined. Free and conjugated aflatoxin metabolites were quantified using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Aflatoxin residue levels were greater in liver than muscle tissues, although all levels were low (range 0.01-1.19 ng/g tissue). Free and conjugated aflatoxins B1 and M1, a metabolite of B1, were the principal tissue residues. Other metabolites investigated included aflatoxicol, which was detected in certain samples, and aflatoxin Q1 which was not detected. Conjugated aflatoxins, hydrolysed and extracted from the aqueous tissue fractions, comprised 55-91% of the total detected aflatoxin residues. All aflatoxin residues were rapidly cleared following discontinuation of the dietary aflatoxin B1 (half-life 1.4 days for total aflatoxin clearance from liver). These results provide further evidence that tissues from animals maintained on diets containing aflatoxins do not provide a major source of aflatoxins when consumed by man.