University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine 2251-8894 18 3 2024 07 01 A Report of Aflatoxicosis in Hand-fed Ewe Lambs Exhibiting Icterus After Hepatic Failure and Hemoglobinuria 453 458 88836 10.32598/ijvm.18.3.1005279 EN Hossein Aminianfar Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran. 0000-0001-7858-1798 Nazanin Samiee Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran. Aghil Sharifzadeh Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Mahya Lalehpoor Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran. Seyedeh Fatemeh Safavi Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Moahammadreza Mokhtari Hooyeh Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2022 06 08 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. https://ijvm.ut.ac.ir/article_88836_acbb24705d9ecd841b35615d46505902.pdf