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Abstract
Mycotoxins in general and aflatoxins in particular are being studied as health hazard for man and animals including poultry. Aflatoxins have been found to cause biliary hyperplasia, hepatic necrosis, icterus, haemorrhage, hepatocellular neoplasia and prolongation of coagulation time. Besides these conditions, aflatoxins have been found to act as immunosuppressors. This immunosuppressive action appears to be antigen specific.
Several mechanisms have been postulated. These include inhibition of RNA polymerase, increase in the activity of lysosomal enzymes, inhibition of reticulo-endothelial system and inhibition of specific immunological systems.
Aflatoxins have been found to modulate the immune response to Rinderpest virus in cattle. Cattle affected with aflatoxicosis present a depressed humoral immune response to tissue culture adapted rinderpest virus vaccine. Similarly immune response to Newcastle disease virus in chicks was found to be suppressed by aflatoxins.
The possible mechanisms for specific immunosuppression require an indepth study and therefore assumes great significance. Specific immunosuppression of B cells by aflatoxins could be because of specific interaction between the aflatoxins and specific markers on certain clones of B cells. Involvement of specific membrane immunoglobulins could not be ruled out.
Since aflatoxins are known to depress reticulo-endothelial system macrophages are liable to be affected by aflatoxins. Consequently, macrophage mediated host defense mechanism could suffer.
The above facets of the problem have been discussed.