EFFECT OF AFLATOXICOSIS ON BLOOD MINERAL CONSTITUENTS OF GROWING LAMBS

The aim of this work was to study alterations of mineral constituents of blood in lambs intoxicated with aflatoxins and recuperation after 8 days of clearance time. Twenty-three male lambs (Rasa Aragonesa) were intoxicated with 2.5 ppm of aflatoxins for 21 days and 13 lambs were maintained as the control group (0 ppm of aflatoxins). Clearance time was 8 days. Samples of serum and plasma were obtained at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of intoxication and at 1, 2, 4, and 8 days after aflatoxin wi thdrawal. Main mineral constituents were determined: Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cu, and Zn. A decrease (P < 0.05) in plasma Zn was observed at the 14 th day of intoxication. Ca, P, Mg, and K levels were lower by Day 21. Cu levels increased (P less than or equal to 0.05) compared with contr ols. Na levels remained in the control range of lambs (P less than or equal to 0.05). During the clearance time, Cu level returned to contro l values by Day 4, Ca and K by Day 8, whereas P, Mg and Zn remained lo wer (P less than or equal to 0.01). These results indicate that during aflatoxicosis in lambs a severe alteration in the mineral metabolism or absorption is produced, mainly due to hepatic and renal lesions and the decrease in feed intake observed in this study.