Histopathological changesin pigs exposed to aflatoxin B1 during pregnancy

The present study was undertaken to find out histopathological changes during experimental induction of aflatoxicosis in sows during pregnancy. In this experiment, 19 sows and 2 boars were used. The sows were divided in to three groups, consisting of control group without toxin in the feed. For treatment groups, aflatoxin was fed at 1 and 3 ppm respectively. The treated sows showed clinical signs of anorexia, jaundice and loss of body weight. The postmortem examination of the treatment groups revealed tannish discoloration of liver with insissated bile in the gall bladder and atrophied spleen. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed hypertrophy of the bile duct epithelium, dissociation of the liver cords, karyomegaly and extensive fibrosis with appearance of pseudolobulation in certain areas resulting in frank adenoma. Spleen showed depletion of lymphocytes in germinal epithelium area. Kidney showed prominent intertubular hemorrhages and atrophy of the glomeruli. The present study indicated hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic feature of the aflatoxin B1 in pregnant sows.