title: Seasonal, age and sex fluctuations in aflatoxin B1content in the liver and kidney of brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pall).
abstract: The goal of this study was to monitor the accumulation of aflatoxin B1in the liver and kidney of brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pall) in the region of south-western Slovakia. A total of 65 samples were involved for analysis by RIA method. Brown hares were divided into the groups according to age, sex and season (month). The sex was determined visually after shooting, and the age was assigned from dried eye lens. The average concentration of AFB1in the liver of hares was 0.54 ± 0.053 µg/kg, and lower values were measured in the kidney (0.41 ± 0.038 µg/kg). The significantly (P < 0.05) higher values were found in winter months when compared to summer months. According to the age, juvenile animals showed significant higher accumulation of B1in both organs than adults (P < 0.05). Wild animals can serve as a good model of real environmental contamination. Thus, monitoring of risk factors such as mycotoxins in the environment is important with regard to public health, as game animals constitute an important part of food chain for humans.
authors.affiliation: a National Agricultural and Food Centre Nitra, Animal Production Research Centre Nitra , Luzianky , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slamecka
authors.affiliation: b Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences , Department of Animal Physiology , Nitra , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capcarova
authors.affiliation: a National Agricultural and Food Centre Nitra, Animal Production Research Centre Nitra , Luzianky , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Rastislav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jurcik
authors.affiliation: a National Agricultural and Food Centre Nitra, Animal Production Research Centre Nitra , Luzianky , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sladecek
authors.affiliation: c Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche , Department of Agro-Food Technology , Orihuela , Spain.
authors.forename: Maria-Jose Carrascosa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Argente
authors.affiliation: d Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Biology , Kraków , Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gren
authors.affiliation: b Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences , Department of Animal Physiology , Nitra , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massanyi
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D034621:Hares / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D018154:Slovakia
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1
keywords: Aflatoxins; Slovakia; brown hare; gender; monitoring; season