Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology

DIAGNOSIS

• Chemical identification of mycotixins in food samples and biological assays for toxicity are important confirmatory steps.
• Demonstration of toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus and of potentially toxic levels of mycotoxins in the food, tissues, secretions are helpful for diagnosis.
• Concentration of aflatoxin B1 in excess of 100μg /kg of feed are considered toxic for cattle.
• Thinlayer chromatography and HPLC are more sensitive analytical methods for determing afaltoxins levels in the food.
• Radio immuno assay and ELISA methods are also available.

Biological assays

• Ducklings are mostly susceptible. Bile duct proliferation in one-day-old ducklings and chick embryo bioassay are highly useful.