Mutagens and Carcinogens Called Aflatoxins and Their Hydroxylated Metabolites in Food for Domestic Cats

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs) in cat food are a serious threat to cat health. The exposure of cats to AFs can cause damage depending on the exposure time and dosage, as well as the diet, nutritional state, age and sex of the cat. The first acute effect of AFs is liver damage, including cellular necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrosis, cirrhosis, immunosuppression, respiratory infection, anorexia, and fever. Chronic exposure to AFs can lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer in the liver, kidneys, lungs, colon and nervous system. Domestic cats can tolerate up to 0.55 mg of AFB1 per kg of body weight, which is the Lethal Dose 50% (LD50) that causes acute toxicity. Subacute aflatoxicosis (0.5-1 mg of AF/kg of food for cats) produces anorexia, drowsiness, jaundice, intravascular coagulation, hematomas, hemorrhagic gut and death in 2 to 3 weeks. For cats, hepatotoxic effects occur with chronic exposure to AFs at 0.05-0.3 mg of AF/kg of food over 6 to 8 weeks.