Mycotoxicosis

Necrosis and inflammation of the hepatopancreas, mandibular organs and hematopoietic organs are the principal features of artificially-induced Aflatoxicosis. Although Aflatoxicosis has not been proven to be an important disease in cultured penaeids, the mechanism for it becoming an important disease is in place. Penaeids reared in semi-intensive or intensive systems are fed artificial diets that may contain ingredients which, on occasion, can contain aflatoxin in sufficient amounts to result in Aflatoxicosis.

The principal lesions of Aflatoxicosis in penaeids occur in the hepatopancreas and the mandibular organ. In the hepatopancreas acute and sub-acute Aflatoxicosis is expressed as necrosis of the hepatopancreatic tubule epithelium that proceeds from the proximal portion of the tubules to the peripheral-tubule tips. A marked intertubular-hemocytic inflammation, followed by encapsulation and fibrosis of affected tubules, follows in subacute and chronic Aflatoxicosis that displays a necrosis of the peripheral epithelial cells of cords within the gland that progresses proximally to the central vein. Only a slight hemocytic inflammation accompanies the degenerative changes in the mandibular organ.