Effect of aflatoxin on susceptibility of hamsters to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis.
After oral administration of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis to hamsters, the organism passed the epithelial barrier of the intestine, and infection was established in the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes. The addition of aflatoxin to the ration of hamsters did not increase their susceptibility to M paratuberculosis but, rather, seemed to decrease susceptibility to the bacillus. Hamsters not treated with aflatoxin and infected with M paratuberculosis had higher bacterial counts in intestinal tract and mesenteric lymph node on necropsy than did infected hamsters that had been treated with aflatoxin. Aflatoxin-treated hamsters grew slowly, had an unthrifty appearance, and developed lesions of megalocytosis regardless of whether they were infected with M paratuberculosis.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D006224:Cricetinae; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000348:Aflatoxins