Effect of Aflatoxin Bl (AFB1) Residues on the Pathology of Camel Liver

摘要

This study was carried out to evaluate the potential effect of high Aflatoxin Bl (AFB1) residues on the pathology of livers of camels slaughtered at different abattoirs in AL-Ahsa region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Aflatoxin residues were determined ina total number of 160 camel liver samples. Thirty seven (23.1%) liver samples showed residues of AFB1 higher than the standard permissible limit (spl. 0.05 ppb). Seventeen of these samples contained very high residues between 0.1-1.0 ppb. while twenty samples contained residues between 0.05-0.1 ppb. However, 123 (76.9%) liver samples showed AFB1 residues less than the standard permissible limits (spl). Small portions of the liver tissue from all animals were removed, weighed and preserved in 10% formalin solution and then embedded in paraffin wax. Pathological changes were observed in the liver tissues collected from all camels. Liver samples containing high AFB1 residues showed remarkable gross changes including fatty degeneration with variable areasof petechial hemorrhages, Congestion, fibrosis and large whitish focus of necrosis. However, mild gross changes were obtained in the liver samples containing medium AFB1 residues, between (0.05->0.1 ppb.) and no gross changes were obtained in the liver samples containing AFB1 residues bellow the standard permissible limits (spl). In addition the histopathological changes in the liver samples with high residues of AFB1 showed vacuolar degenerations, cholangitis, cirrhosis, bile duct carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma while hepatocytic fatty vacuolation, hydropic degeneration, congestion and mild degree of peribiliary cirrhosis were observed in the liver samples containing medium, AFB1 residues and no remarkable changes were seen in the liver samplescontaining AFB1 residues below the standard permissible limits (spl). These results revealed that aflatoxin residues may cause massive histopathological changes to the liver tissue of camels and caution should be exhibited in its use for human and animal consumption.