Sub acute toxicity study in rats by the Aspergillus flavus culture filtrates isolated from maize stalks of Shivamogga district, Karnataka

The present study was conducted to assess effects of the toxicity caused by consuming the fungal contaminated fodder by the cattle. Identification of the fungi was done by molecular identification of the fungi species in the culture using Sanger Sequence Chromatogram method To mimic the field conditions, a repeated-dose 28-days oral sub acute toxicity study was performed with three groups (n=6) of Wistar Albino rats. The rats were weighed individually on Day 0, Day 14 and Day 28. The group I (control) received oral gavage of potato dextrose broth @ dose of 2 ml/100 g, where as groups II and III received fungal culture filtrate of Aspergillus flavus at the doses of 1 and 2 ml/100 g respectively. Rats showed gradual reduction in the feed intake, water intake, diarrhoea and loss of body weight Treated groups (group II and III) showed increase in serological parameters (Aspartate Transaminase, Alanine Transaminase, Creatinine, Blood urea nitrogen) and decrease in hematological parameters (Packed cell volume, Hemoglobin, Total leucocyte count and Total erythrocyte count). At the end of the study period, all the survived experimental rats were humanely sacrificed and subjected to detailed postmortem examination and observed for any gross changes in the organs. The findings of the present study showed the fungal culture filtrates of fungus Aspergillus flavus isolated from contaminated maize stalk caused toxicity in rats, which was attributed for the presence of a toxic principle components in the fungal culture filtrates.