Experimental combined aflatoxin B 1 and ochratoxin A intoxication in pigs

SUMMARY: Twenty‐one pigs weighing approximately 18 kg were placed in 7 groups of 3 and given diets containing respectively aflatoxin B, alone at 0.375 and 0.0750mg/kg, ochratoxin A alone at 1 and 2 mg/kg, 0.375 mg/kg of aflatoxin B 1 plus 1 mg/kg of ochratoxin A and 0.750 mg/kg aflatoxin B 1 and 2 mg/kg of ochratoxin A. The remaining group served as untreated control. At the respective dose levels, pigs receiving similar doses of ochratoxin A alone or in combination with aflatoxin B 1 , were similarly affected, the clinical effects of aflatoxin having been mostly obscured by those due to ochratoxin A. Mild degenerative hepatic changes typical of aflatoxicosis were observed in pigs fed this toxin alone or in combination with ochratoxin A. In kidneys of pigs fed diet containing 1 and 2 mg of ochratoxin A alone changes included interstitial fibrosis of the vortex and dystrophy and degeneration of the tubular epithelium. Similar lesions but less pronounced fibrosis were found in kidneys of pigs receiving both toxins. The respective lower dose levels of mycotoxins selected were judged to be about the no‐effect levels for each dosed separately under the conditions of the trial. Such levels have been found not infrequently on mould affected grain and stock foods. The result highlights the difficulties that may be experienced in the recognition of such multimycotoxicoses as they are likely to occur in the field and indicate the need for toxicological analysis as well as pathological investigation in establishing a diagnosis.