One-day-old broilers were reared until 35 days of age at both natural low (100 m) and simulated high altitude (2133 m) to assess the incidence and development of ascites syndrome. Clinical measurements were conducted at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age. Birds reared at 2133 meters exhibited significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) reduced body weights at 7 through 28 days of age. Total serum calcium and biochemical enzyme activities were found to be altered at 35 days of age. In addition, the high-altitude group had significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher erythrocyte counts, hematocrits, and hemoglobin at 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age and higher serum inorganic phosphorus at each weekly sample time than birds at the low altitude. Total mortality was 20.3% at 2133 meters and 4.6% at 100 meters. The incidence of ascites syndrome in the high-altitude group ranged from 16.6% to 61.1% during the 5-week experimental period.

No abstract

The effects of ochratoxin A (OA) and tannic acid (TA) on growing chicks were determined. One-day-old male broiler chicks were fed a diet containing the following additives for 26 days: A) none; B) 3.0 ppm OA; C) 1.5% TA; D) 3.0 ppm OA plus 1.5% TA. When compared to the controls, body weights and feed efficiencies were significantly depressed in the OA and TA groups. There was a further depression in body weights and a dramatic depression of feed efficiency in the OA-TA combination group. Pigmentation, as measured by visual shank scores, was reduced in chicks fed OA singly or in combination with TA but was not affected by feeding TA singly. There were no consistent treatment differences in the relative weights of the kidney, gizzard, proventriculus, liver, bursa, or pancreas, although there was a trend toward an elevated relative kidney weight in the groups receiving OA. Serum uric acid levels were significantly elevated in the OA and the OA-TA combination group indicating impaired renal excretory function attributable to OA. Total serum protein levels were significantly depressed in the groups receiving OA, and serum calcium levels were depressed in all treatment groups. Serum phosphorus levels were decreased in the OA and OA-TA groups but were only decreased significantly in the OA group. There were no consistent treatment differences in the hematology and other blood chemistry and mineral values.

No abstract

The effects of ochratoxin A (OA) and vanadium (V), singly and in combination, were determined in male Leghorn chicks from 1 to 28 days of age. The chicks were fed a control diet containing the following additives: A) none; B) 2.5 mg OA/kg; C) 50 mg V/kg; D) 2.5 mg OA plus 50 mg V/kg. These data show that body weight gains were significantly reduced by OA and V singly, and a toxicity-enhancing synergism exists between OA and V, which caused a further reduction in performance. The OA-V combination caused a significant increase in the relative weights of the liver, kidney, gizzard, and proventriculus and a significant decrease in the relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius. This decrease in bursal weight was due to atrophy of lymphoid follicles as indicated by the increase in the histologic lesion score. Uric acid in serum was increased, and albumin, calcium, and phosphorus were decreased in the OA-V combination group. There were also small but significant changes in the hematological parameters measured. Distribution of OA to the liver and kidney was not altered, nor was the distribution of V to the liver, kidney, or muscle tissue. Histologic lesions in kidneys were mild but were more prevalent in chicks in the OA-V combination group.