Biochemical and immunological effects of aflatoxins in rabbits

Aflatoxicosis caused impairment of specific and nonspecific immune responses to varying degrees in rabbits. However, the impairment was of lesser extent as compared to the earlier reports in other laboratory animals. The nonspecific response, as determined by phagocytic index was 60% of the control in test rabbits. Aflatoxicosis caused a decrease in protein content (22%), alkaline phosphatase activity (75%) and an increase (1.5-3 times) in the level of cholesterol, total lipids and acid phosphatase activity in test rabbits sera. The changes were statistically significant (P less than 0.05) in test rabbits. The test rabbits had a tendency to recover from the effects of aflatoxicosis after 3-4 weeks.