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.