AFLATOXIN RESIDUES IN THE TISSUES OF PIGS FED A CONTAMINATED DIET

Pigs fed aflatoxins for 21 days had 36% heavier livers, gained 25% less weight, and ate 18% less feed than controls, but did not differ in efficiency of feed utilization or show any gross pathological lesions on postmortem examination. Assay of liver, heart, kidney, spleen, and muscle showed that there was some carry-over of aflatoxins B, and B2 to all tissues, but G1 and G2 were not present. Residues of Bj metabolites, M, and B2a, were also found in all tissues of the pigs fed aflatoxins. This is the first time that B2a has been identified as a tissue residue in the pig. The average retention of the aflatoxin dosage was calculated to be 0.015 and 0.005% for B, and B2, respectively. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.