pubmed:abstractText |
Parts of Western India have experienced an outbreak of hepatitis affecting man and dogs and characterised by jaundice, rapidly developing ascites, portal hypertension, and a high mortality-rate. The disease was associated with the consumption of maize contaminated heavily with Aspergillus flavus. Analysis of contaminated samples showed that affected people could have consumed between 2 and 6 mg. of aflatoxin daily over a period of a month. A specimen of liver obtained at necropsy showed bileduct proliferation and giant cells. The disease appears to be a result of aflatoxicosis.
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