An outbreak of canine aflatoxicosis in Gauteng Province, South Africa. 2012

Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Sporadic outbreaks of aflatoxicosis occur in dogs when they consume contaminated dog food. During 2011, low-cost brands of pelleted dog food were contaminated with very high concentrations of aflatoxins. Approximately 100 dogs were presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital. Clinically, the dogs were depressed to collapsed and icteric, with haematemesis, melaena and haematochezia. The most common pathological findings were icterus, gastro-enterorrhagia and hepatosis. On histopathological examination, fatty hepatosis and bile duct proliferation were observed. A consistent, very characteristic finding was the presence of a blue-grey granular material within the bile ducts. A total of 124 samples of the dog food fed to the affected dogs was analysed to determine aflatoxin concentrations. Concentrations ranged from below the limit of quantification (< 5 μg/kg) to 4946 μg/kg and six samples were submitted to determine the ratio of aflatoxins in the feed. It is estimated that well over 220 dogs died in the Gauteng Province of South Africa as a result of this aflatoxin outbreak.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D004283 Dog Diseases Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used. Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D000348 Aflatoxins Furano-furano-benzopyrans that are produced by ASPERGILLUS from STERIGMATOCYSTIN. They are structurally related to COUMARINS and easily oxidized to an epoxide form to become ALKYLATING AGENTS. Members of the group include AFLATOXIN B1; aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2; AFLATOXIN M1; and aflatoxin M2. Aflatoxin
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000821 Animal Feed Foodstuff used especially for domestic and laboratory animals, or livestock. Fodder,Animal Feeds,Feed, Animal,Feeds, Animal,Fodders
D013019 South Africa A republic in southern Africa, the southernmost part of Africa. It has three capitals: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Officially the Republic of South Africa since 1960, it was called the Union of South Africa 1910-1960. Republic of South Africa,Union of South Africa
D015651 Mycotoxicosis Poisoning caused by the ingestion of mycotoxins (toxins of fungal origin). Fungus Poisoning,Poisoning, Fungus,Fungus Poisonings,Mycotoxicoses,Poisonings, Fungus

Related Publications

Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
January 2013, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
February 2008, Theriogenology,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
April 2007, East African medical journal,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
June 2017, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
February 2014, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
March 2021, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
April 2013, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
May 2021, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
September 2000, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association,
Luke F Arnot, and Neil M Duncan, and Heleen Coetzer, and Christo J Botha
January 2017, Global health action,
Copied contents to your clipboard!