Hepatitis due to aflatoxicosis. An outbreak in Western India

Parts of Western India have experienced an outbreak of hepatitis affecting man and dogs and characterised by jaundice, rapidly developing ascites, portal hypertension, and a high mortality-rate. The disease was associated with the consumption of maize contaminated heavily with Aspergillus flavus. Analysis of contaminated samples showed that affected people could have consumed between 2 and 6 mg. of aflatoxin daily over a period of a month. A specimen of liver obtained at necropsy showed bileduct proliferation and giant cells. The disease appears to be a result of aflatoxicosis.