a report of aflatoxicosis in hand-fed ewe lambs exhibiting icterus after hepatic failure and hemoglobinuria

Aflatoxin intoxication has been reported in most species; however, it is infrequently documented in sheep. in this report, three 7-month-old romane ewe lambs were found with severe icterus, tachypnea, slight fever, diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy. two of them were culled, and one recovered after treatment. necropsy findings showed jaundice, ascites, diffuse hemorrhage on the peritoneum, gall bladder enlargement, and alteration in the color and texture of the liver and kidney. histopathological evaluation revealed hepatocellular necrosis, megalocytosis, centrilobular to bridging fibrosis in the liver, and hemoglobinuria without nephrotic degeneration in the kidney. the polymerase chain reaction test for leptospirosis as the main differential diagnosis was conducted, and the result was negative. similarly, the warthin starry special staining for spirochetes was negative. clinical signs and characteristics of microscopic lesions were suggestive of aflatoxicosis in the lambs described in this investigation. as sheep flocks with intensive rearing systems are becoming more common in iran, the emergence of aflatoxicosis due to fungi-contaminated feedstuff can be a serious health concern in such farms.