CHANGES IN THE COAGULATION PROFILE OF LAMBS INTOXICATED WITH AFLATOXIN IN THEIR FEED

Twenty-three male lambs were intoxicated with 2.5 ppm aflatoxins in th eir feed for a period of 3 weeks. Thirteen lambs were maintained as a control group (0 ppm aflatoxins in their feed). The coagulation profil es were determined from brood samples that were obtained at 0, 7, 14 a nd 21 d during the intoxication period and al 1, 2, 4 and 8 d of an 8- d clearance period. Aflatoxicosis in the animals was characterized by an increase in prothrombin time (P < 0.01) from d 14 of the intoxicati on period until the end of the experiment. An increase (P < 0.05) in f ibrinogen concentration was detected begining on d 21, instead of the expected decrease. This was probably due to the inflammation found in the lungs of the intoxicated animals. No difference in activated parti al thromboplastin time was found between intoxicated and control anima ls. These results suggest that there was a significant change in some coagulation factors of the extrinsic pathway in the intoxicated lambs and that prothrombin time determination could be used as an indicator of aflatoxicosis in lambs.