Resumo

SOGBE M, Elías J et al. Lesiones Pancreáticas en Lechones Destetados Inducidas por Ingestión de Alimento Contaminado con 100 ppb de Aflatoxina B1 . Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias [online]. 2005, vol.46, n.1, pp.17-26. ISSN 0258-6576.

The contamination of feed by fungi and mycotoxins happens anywhere in the World. The ingestion of mycotoxins particularly AFB1 by swines produce a great variety of clinical signs and organic injuries depending on the age, nutritional state, dose and duration of the exposition. The chronic exposition to low concentration can increase the susceptibility to other diseases, loss of weight, and icterus. Other researchers refer hepatic and kidney damage. There are few publications reporting pancreatic lesions when 100 ppb of AFB1 had been administered to weaned piglets. In Venezuela there are no previous reports of its pancreatic damage by AFB1considered low levels in contaminated feeds. The present paper reports cases showing gross, microscopic aspects and pancreatic enzyme alterations in weaned piglets fed with 100 ppb AFB1 contaminated feed. 16  four weeks old weaned Yorkshire piglets of both sexes were used. The study was conducted in two groups (A, B). Group A as control, Group B fed on 100 ppb of AFB1. The trial was completed in four weeks. Piglets were euthanized two of each group by the end of every week. Clinical signs were evaluated, blood samples were taken and pancreatic enzimology studies were performed, in addition  gross and histopathologic studies were performed. Gross findings showed in Group B: hemorrhage and necrotic foci in pancreas. Histopathologic findings showed early signed of liver damage as diffuse hepatic vacuolization and areas of unicellular necrosis and ductal biliar proliferation  by the end of week 4 in the Group B., as well as focal necrotizing pancreatitis with hemorrhage and inflammatory process, while Group A ( Control ) showed no pancreatic lesions. On the other hand the pancreatic enzymes were increased only in group B. This trial allows to conclude that the use of 100 ppb AFB1 contaminated feed might explain the pancreatic damage above described.

Palavras-chave : Swine; weaning; feed consumption; aflatoxins; Aragua.