Induced acute aflatoxicosis in goats: treatment with activated charcoal or dual combinations of oxytetracycline, stanozolol, and activated charcoal
Hatch, R.C.; Clark, J.D.; Jain, A.V.; Weiss, R.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 43(4): 644-648
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 6803625 Document Number: 184969
Groups of four 6-12 mo.-old male goats were injected intraruminally with a lethal dose (3 mg/kg body wt) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Treatments and delay times until start of treatment were basic activated charcoal slurry in phosphate buffer (8 h); charcoal slurry + the anabolic steroid stanozolol (8 h); charcoal slurry + oxytetracycline (OTC; 8, 24 and 48 h); and stanozolol + OTC (8 and 24 h). A nontreated group and a phosphate buffer-treated groups were used as controls. Charcoal slurry decreased severity of illness in all goats, decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin responses to AFB1, and prevented nearly all pathologic changes (average percentage of hepatic destruction was 3% compared with 31% in phosphate buffer-treated controls); 100% of the goats survived. Duration of illness was not decreased. With charcoal slurry + stanozolol, results were similar to those of charcoal slurry alone, except that 3 of 4 goats did not become ill and the mean duration of illness was 10 h compared with 96 h in controls. There were no gross lesions. In goats given charcoal slurry + OTC 8 h after AFB1, results were similar to those of charcoal slurry + stanozolol, except that 2 goats became mildly ill (avg duration of illness, 44 h). With charcoal slurry + OTC beginning 24 h after AFB1, 3 goats were mildly ill (avg duration of illness, 80 h) and 2 goats had mild gross lesions. Hepatic destruction increased to 13% but recovery was still 100%. Goats given charcoal slurry + OTC beginning 48 h after AFB1 had mild illness (3 goats) and encephalopathic signs (1 goat). Illness lasted an average of 105 h. Mild gross lesions were present in 2 goats and average percentage of hepatic destruction was 11%. Survival decreased to 50%. Goats treated with stanozolol + OTC 8 h after AFB1 had milder respiratory signs than controls. Their illness was enhanced. Serum AST and bilirubin responses to AFB1 were increased; goats that lived longest had widespread hemorrhages suggestive of a coagulation defect; average hepatic destruction was 70% (compared with 25% in untreated controls). Similar results occurred in goats given stanozolol + OTC 24 h after AFB1, except that the average percentage of hepatic destruction was 25%. Stanozolol and OTC were mutually antagonistic and potentiated pathologic changes, especially when given 8 h after AFB1. Possibly the best therapy for acute aflatoxicosis in ruminants may be a large oral dose of basic activated charcoal slurry plus a once-only i.m. injection of stanozolol (2 mg/kg), or a daily or twice-daily i.m. injection of OTC (10 mg/kg) for 5 days. Treatment should be initiated no later than 24 h after exposure to aflatoxin for maximum chance of survival. The combination of stanozolol + OTC was contraindicated. Other therapies were discussed.