Aflatoxins, although primary hepatotoxic agents, were injurious to kidney in several animal species. Veterinary clinical pathology was used to determine renal changes in canine experimental aflatoxicosis. Four groups of five dogs were used. Blood and urine samples were coilected for the twelve following days. BUN, creatinine, total serun protein and urinalysis were done. The experiment was divided in three periods: period 0 (days 1 to 3) refered to the control data, period 1 (days 4 to 8) to the aflatoxin administration days, and period 2 (days 9 to 12) the days after the poisoning. 100, 200, 400 and 600mg/kg/day of aflatoxin for the I, II, III and IV groups respectively, by oral pathway, mixed to the food, were used for five days. BUN and creatinine were within the normal ranges. Total serun protein and urine specific gravity were near or above upper limits due to hemoconcentration. Statistics showed a diminution of BUN, creatinine and urine specific gravity values according to the increased af latoxin doses applied in each group. This was attributed to an increase of water intake. According to the results of this investigation, the conclusion is that the doses used were not sufficient to determine renal damage.
aflatoxicosis; dogs; renal function; BUN; creatinine; total serun protein
