Aflatoxins affect organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, and adrenal glands. Symptoms include feed refusal, reduced growth rate, decreased feed efficiency, and decreased milk production. In addition, listlessness, weight loss, rough hair coat, mild diarrhea, anemia with bruises and subcutaneous hemorrhage, impaired immune system response, increased susceptibility to disease, and rectal prolapse may be observed. The severity of aflatoxicosis varies with the animal species, level of aflatoxin in the diet, and the duration of exposure to aflatoxin. The diagnosis of aflatoxin poisoning is difficult because of the variations seen between animals and farms, but liver damage is a common observation.
Aflatoxins cause the liver to become pale tan, yellow or orange.
The prognosis of aflatoxicosis depends on the severity of liver damage. Treatment should be directed at the severely affected animals in the herd and further poisoning prevented. If aflatoxicosis is suspected, the ration should be analyzed and the source of contamination eliminated. Levels of protein,and vitamins A, D, E, K, and B should be increased in the ration because the toxin binds vitamins and affects protein synthesis. To avoid contamination of milk, lactating dairy cows should not receive more than 20 ppb in the total ration.