KARACHI, Dec 25: The toxin that caused the deaths of around 500 animals, mostly buffaloes, and made over 1,000 sick has been identified as aflatoxin in a report released by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Karachi.

The incident occurred in Landhi’s Cattle Colony a month ago.

According to the report, the toxic animal feed (bhoosi tookre and basi roti, or stale bread) containing fungus, contained toxin T-2 200ppb (parts per billion), which is way beyond the limits set by the US Food and Drug Administration, that is 20µg/kg (microgram per kilogram), for poultry feed and dairy rations.

Other toxins found in the specimen included aflatoxin B-1 (118.23ppb µg/kg) and B-2 (20.23µg/kg ppb).

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus, most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They can colonise and contaminate grain before harvest or during storage. Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic. The toxin can also be found in the milk of animals which are fed contaminated feed.

It may be mentioned here that no disease was detected in the bacterial and virology tests of the specimen of the flesh of dead animals carried out at the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, Tando Jam. The report of the federal National Veterinary Laboratories has not been received so far.

Holding Livestock and Animal Husbandry District Officer Dr Mohan Lal responsible for the death of the animals, the secretary of livestock and fisheries had him suspended. Dr Lal was also working as the EDO Agriculture on an additional charge.

The suggestions recommended by the government inquiry team probing the incident included raising awareness about the hazardous effects of fungus-containing animal feed, establishment of a feed mill to ensure a constant supply of quality feed and toxic detection labs in Cattle Colony, initiation of measures to ensure the sale of animal feed by licensed persons and the award of compensation.

The inquiry team confirmed that the cause of the animals’ death was the contamination of feed, adding that it was accidental, as the supplier of the feed’s own animals had died as well.