ACUTE TOXICITY OF AFLATOXINS B1 AND G1 IN RAINBOW TROUT (SALMO GAIRDNERI)

Nine-month-old Mt. Shasta strain rainbow trout averaging 60 g each were used to determine the median lethal doses (LD50) of aflatoxins B1 and G1. The toxins were isolated from cultures of Aspergillus flavus (ATCC 15517) grown on rice. Statistical treatment of mortality occurring during the 10-day period after intraperitoneal injection of the mycotoxins gave LD50 values of 0.81 mg/kg and 1.90 mg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and G1, respectively. Trout given oral doses of aflatoxins, or those given an LD50 ip dose, regurgitated their stomach contents. It is suggested that acute toxicity studies of aflatoxins given by the oral route in this manner are not practical in the case of the rainbow trout. © 1969.