Aflatoxins (AF) are a major problem in broiler production and are significant economic and public health burdens worldwide. A commercial sodium bentonite (Na-B) adsorbent was used to prevent the effect of AF [50 µg of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)/kg of feed] in broiler productivity, biochemical parameters, macroscopic and microscopic liver changes, and AFB₁ liver residues. The influence of Na-B (0.3%) and monensin (MON, 100 mg/kg), alone or in combination, was investigated in depth. The dietary treatments were as follows: treatment (T) 1: basal diet (B); T2: B + MON; T3: B + Na-B; T4: B + Na-B + MON; T5: B + AFB₁; T6: B + AFB₁ + Na-B + MON; T7: B + AFB₁ + MON; T8: B + AFB₁ + Na-B. Birds were fed dietary treatments for 28 d (d 18 to 46). No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among treatments with respect to broiler performance, biochemical parameters, or relative liver weights. With the exception of T8, all livers showed histopathological alterations, with accumulation of fat vacuoles. The normal appearance of livers from T8 showed the protective effect of Na-B against aflatoxicosis. The residual AFB₁ levels in livers from T5 to T8 ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 ng/g and were higher in livers from T6 (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicate a competition between AFB₁ and MON for adsorption sites on Na-B when feed contains low levels of the toxin, indicating a nonselective adsorption capacity of this particular Na-B. In addition, significant levels of AFB₁ in livers indicate that this determination is an important technique not only for diagnosis of aflatoxicosis in broilers, but also for quality control of avian products.

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The aims of the present work were: (1) to determine both mycobiota in raw materials and finisher poultry feed, as well as the ability to produce aflatoxin B1 by A. flavus strains, and (2) to evaluate the natural co-occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), gliotoxin, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin in poultry feed by LC-MS/MS. Nineteen percent of raw materials and 79% of finisher poultry feed samples exceeded the maximum allowed total fungal count (1 × 10(4) CFU g(-1)) to ensure hygienic quality. Aspergillus flavus was the only species belonging to section Flavi which was isolated while Fusarium verticilliodes was the prevalent species. Forty-seven percent of A. flavus strains were aflatoxin B1 producers and the highest frequency of aflatoxigenic strains was isolated from finisher poultry feeds. Principal component analysis showed that corn grains are closely related with total fungal and Fusarium counts. This positive relationship suggests that total fungal and Fusarium spp. counts in poultry feed might come mainly from corn grains. Regarding poultry feeds, in ground finisher type, Aspergillus spp. counts increased as water activity (aw) diminished. A positive relationship among aw, total fungal and Fusarium spp. counts was observed in both ground finisher and ground starter feed. Several mycotoxins were monitored in feeds by applying the LC MS/MS technique. One hundred percent of poultry samples were contaminated with FB1, and the highest levels were detected in pelleted finisher poultry. AFB1, gliotoxin, DAS, HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin were not detected in any poultry feed. The scarcity of available mycotoxicological studies from Argentinean poultry feed using a multitoxin analysis technique enhances the contribution of the findings of this report.