title: Aflatoxin B1 toxicosis in dairy calves pretreated with selenium-vitamin E.
abstract: Effects of a single IM injection of selenium-vitamin E (Se-E; 5 mg of Se + 68 IU of alpha-tocopherol/60 kg of body weight) as a pretreatment 14 days before an oral dose of aflatoxin B1 (1.0 mg/kg) were studied in 24 dairy calves. Treatment groups were designated as follows: group 1 = no Se-E or aflatoxin B1 (control); group 2 = Se-E supplementation only; group 3 = aflatoxin B1 dose only; and group 4 = Se-E supplementation before aflatoxin B1 dose. Clinical signs of toxicosis in aflatoxin B1-treated calves included anorexia, ataxia, rough haircoats, increased respiration rates, dyspnea, dehydration, and nasal discharge. Packed-cell volume, RBC, WBC, and hemoglobin were increased in aflatoxin-treated calves. Significant increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase (P less than 0.05) and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (P less than 0.001) activities and prothrombin times (P less than 0.001) were observed in aflatoxin-treated calves, indicating that there was hepatic involvement. Although aflatoxin exposure caused a significant decrease in body weight (P less than 0.01) and feed intake (P less than 0.001) in treatment groups 3 and 4, Se was demonstrated to interact significantly (P less than 0.001) with aflatoxin B1 for feed intake, causing an improved feed intake in treatment group 4 calves.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brucato
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Sundlof
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Edds
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000096702:Aflatoxin Poisoning
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012643:Selenium; D014810:Vitamin E