[The aflatoxins and liver cancer in Guangxi, China].

The AFB1 intake and the AFM1 excretion of 81 households in 10 villages, Guanxi were investigated using the ELISA method. The results showed that there was positive correlation between PLC mortality and AFB1 intake from corn and peanut oil, but not from rice. The results of stepwise regression showed that main factors were AFB1 intake of males, AFM1 excretion of females and consumption of corn. The results showed that aflatoxins were correlated with mortality rates of liver cancer. Further investigation needs to be carried out in case-control and cohort studies.

Fusarium mycotoxins from peanuts suspected as a cause of sandhill crane mortality.

An estimated 9,500 sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) died in Gaines County, Texas and Roosevelt County, New Mexico between 1982 and 1987. The predominant clinical sign observed in sick cranes was their inability to hold their heads erect, both while standing and flying. Multiple muscle hemorrhages and submandibular edema were the most common lesions seen at necropsy. Mycotoxins produced by Fusarium sp. growing during cold, wet weather on peanuts left in the field after harvest, the predominant foods of the dead cranes at the time of these mortality events, were identified as the most likely cause of this mortality. Rendering moldy peanuts inaccessible to the cranes by conventional tillage resulted in reduced crane mortality in these areas.

Bovine abortion and death associated with consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated peanuts.

Approximately 12% of a herd of 68 crossbred cows aborted third-trimester fetuses after consuming moldy peanuts for 4 days. Further investigation revealed that less than 20% of the herd had access to this supplemental feed. Results of serum biochemical analysis indicated liver damage in the affected cows. All of these cows died within 8 days of aborting. The peanuts contained 77 micrograms aflatoxin B1/g, as determined by liquid chromatography. Tissues were submitted from 1 cow, and liver contained 5 ng aflatoxin B1/g. Results of other laboratory tests were negative for common toxins and abortifacients.

Waterfowl mortality caused by aflatoxicosis in Texas.

Waterfowl mortality caused by aflatoxicosis occurred in two separate areas in Texas during the 1977-78 wintering season. The first outbreak occurred in snow geese (Anser caerulescens) on the Gulf Coast prairies, followed by an outbreak in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the north-central portion of the state. Aflatoxin B1 levels in geese were 500 ng/g (dry weight). Aflatoxin B1 levels in the second mortality were 10-250 ng/g (dry weight). The exact source of the toxin was not demonstrated in the first outbreak, but in the second outbreak was traced to waste peanuts, which constituted a major portion of the diet of wintering waterfowl in north-central Texas. Aflatoxin B1 levels in the field peanuts collected in the general areas were 110 ng/g.

The occurrence of aflatoxin in nuts and nut products imported to Finland for human consumption during the years 1974-1976.

An examination was made of 1050 lots of nuts and nut products, totalling 4.7 million kg, imported to Finland in the years 1974-1976. Of these, 44 lots (4.2%) were found to contain aflatoxin. The highest percentage of aflatoxin-containing lots, was observed in the case of sliced and crushed peanuts (29.4%). Of the positive samples, 20.5% contained 101-500 microgram aflatoxin per kg, 52.3% contained 6-100 microgram/kg and 20.5% contained less than or equal to 5 microgram/kg. Rest of the samples (6.7%) contained aflatoxin 501 microgram/kg or more. The most commonly detected toxin types were B1 and B2. The proportion of aflatoxin-containing lots showed a slight decrease during the 3-year research period. On the basis of the research results and the sampling plan used, and bearing in mind the acceptable quality level (AQL: 5 microgram/kg) employed in Finland, the reliability of approval and rejection decisions was discussed from the point of view of both the producer's and the consumer's risk.