Experimental acute aflatoxicosis in mink (Mustela vison)

Susceptibility of mink to intoxication by aflatoxins was studied by giving mink single doses (300, 600, and 900 mug of aflatoxins B1 and G1 (40:60)/kg of body weight) and observing them for 8 weeks. One, 2, and 4 of 5 mink in each group died within 4 days after ingesting the small, medium, and large doses, respectively. Enlarged liver with pale yellow to yellowish pink spots was the most consistent lesion observed in mink that died of acute aflatoxicosis. Some lobules of liver also appeared hemorrhagic and fragile, whereas others showed fatty metamorphosis. Histopathologic examination of the liver showed different degrees of fat infiltration, bile duct proliferation, and necrosis of liver cells. Hematologically, mink that survived were not appreciably different from control mink in terms of hemoglobin content, packed cell volume, and white blood cell count. Liver specimen from aflatoxin-treated mink contained more fat, was larger, and contained less protein, RNA and DNA than did liver from control mink. Aflatoxin residue (only B1 ) was recovered from liver of 6 mink and were between 0.1 and 7.6 mug of the original dose.