Abstract
The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of aflatoxin on male reproduction by exposure to fodders contaminated by moulds producing toxins as a natural environmental contaminants.
Semen was collected from three normal healthy buffalo bulls every ten days for one month before adding the toxin and examined for livability and abnormality percentages.
Moldy rice containing aflatoxin B and G was incorporated into the ration of the studied bulls in a daily amount of 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 gm respectively for each bull for two weeks. Each gramme of the rice powder contained 15.6 ppm aflatoxin B and 9.84 ppm aflatoxin G as determined spectrophotometrically.
Semen was collected in the middle of the two weeks experimental period. Moreover, one week, one month and two months later, semen was collected again and examined for the same parameters.
The results showed marked decrease in the alive percentage of spermatozoa from 91.11% to 80.8% after the addition of aflatoxin. Moreover, a very high increase in the sperm abnormalities up to 54% was recorded.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Briggs, D. M., Wyatt, R. D. & Hamilton, P. B., 1974. The effect of dietary aflatoxin on semen characteristics of mature broiler breeder males. Poult. Sci. 53(6): 2115–2119.
Butler, W. H., 1965. Liver injury and aflatoxin. In mycotoxins in foodstuffs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge Mass.: 175–186.
Edds, G. T., 1973. Acute aflatoxicosis: A review. J.A.V.M.A. 162: 304–309.
Hiscocks, E. S., 1965. The importance of molds in the determination of tropical foods and feedstuffs. In mycotoxins in foodstuffs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge, Mass: 15–26.
Krogh, P., Hald, B. & Korpinen, E. C., 1970. Occurrence of aflatoxin in groundnut and copra-products imported into Finland. Nord. Vet. Med. 22: 584–589.
Kushwaha, N. S., Mukherjee, D. P. & Bhattachary, P., 1955. Seasonal variations in reaction-time and semen quality of buffalo bulls. Ind. J. Vet. Sci. and Anim. Husb. 25: 317–328.
Laing, J. A., 1970. Fertility and infertility in domestic animals. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London.
Legator, M. S., 1969. Mutagenic effect of aflatoxin. J.A.V.M.A. 155: 2080–2083.
Lee, W. V., 1965. Quantitative determination of aflatoxin in groundnut products. Analyst 90: 305–307.
Ling, K. H., 1976. Study on mycotoxins contaminated in food in Taiwan. Tremor Inducing Compounds from Council, Republic of China, No. 9: 11.
Maryamma, K. I. & Sivadas, C. C., 1975. Aflatoxicosis in goats. An experimental study. Indian Vet. J. 52: 385–392.
Nabney, J. & Nesbitt, B. F., 1965. A spectrophotometric method of determining the aflatoxin. Analyst 90: 155–160.
Newberne, P. M., 1973. Chronic aflatoxicosis. J.A.V.M.A. 163: 1262–1267.
Newberne, P. M. & Butler, W. H., 1969. Acute and chronic effects of aflatoxins on the liver of domestic and laboratory animals: A review. Cancer Res. 29: 236–250.
Roberts, S. J., 1971. Veterinary obstetrics and genital diseases. 2nd Ed., Ithaca, N. Y.
Sayed, A. A., 1958. Some factors affecting the semen of cattle and buffaloes. Ph. D. Faculty of Agric., Cairo University.
Shotwell, O. L., Hesseithine, C. W., Stubblefield, R. D. & Sorenson, W. G., 1966. Production of aflatoxin on rice. Appl. Microbiol. 14: 425–428.
Vandeplassche, M., Laing, J. A., Melrose, D. R., Reed, H. C. B. & Smith, G. F., 1979. Male abnormalities. In Fertility and Infertility in Domestic Animals. 3rd Ed., J. A. Laing, Bailliere, Tindall, London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hafez, A.H., Megalla, S.E. & Mahmed, A.A. Aflatoxin and aflatoxicosis. Mycopathologia 77, 141–144 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00518798
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00518798