Effect of low levels of aflatoxin B1 on performance, biochemical parameters, and aflatoxin B1 in broiler liver tissues in the presence of monensin and sodium bentonite

Abstract

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.

Assessment of serum biochemical parameters and pathological changes in broilers with chronic aflatoxicosis fed glucomannan-containing yeast product (Mycosorb) and sodium bentonite

“…Some biochemical toxic effects were also clearly visible in the present study. Lower amounts of uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides, and higher AST and ALT activities were observed in chickens fed aflatoxin alone (negative control group) as compared to positive control group, and were in agreement with previous reports on the biochemical toxic effects of aflatoxin (4,13,18). Elevation in activities of AST and ALT and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride values in group 2 may result from hepatic damage and leakage of enzymes into the blood stream, as well as impairment of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (18).…”

“…When compared to negative control, the preventive efficacy of 1.5% and 3% SB in aflatoxin containing diet was not significant (groups 3, 4) in contrast to the results of other authors reporting a significant amelioration after addition of SB to the diet containing aflatoxin (200 to 2500 ppb) (6,13,15). The beneficial effect of SB in above studies might be attributed to its sequestration action against aflatoxin in feeds based on the mechanism of adsorption and decrease in the aflatoxin bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract.…”

“…In experimental trials, YG and/or SB were added to aflatoxin containing diet to see if they were effective in decreasing aflatoxin toxicity in terms of performance, haematology, serum biochemistry, immunology, and pathomorphology of broilers (2,7,10,13,28) and duckling (3). In most previous reports on the effects of YG and SB, aflatoxin was added to the diet at different levels (from 200 to 2000 ppb).…”

Effects of feeding corn naturally contaminated with AFB₁ and AFB₂ on performance and aflatoxin residues in broilers

“…Aravind et al (2003) reported that grains naturally contaminated with mycotoxins (AF 168 µg/kg, OAT 8.4 µg/kg, ZEN 54 µg/kg, T-2 toxin 32 µg/kg) significantly resulted in poor performance. Although Magnoli et al (2011) found that diets containing 50 µg/kg AFB 1 had no effect on the performance of broilers from 28 to 46 days of age, our results prove that broilers were more sensitive to aflatoxins during the starter period, while broilers administered AFB 1 -and AFB 2 -contaminated diets showed a poor performance during the grower period.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that AFB 1 has a range of negative effects on poultry health, including poor performance (Oguz and Kurtoglu, 2000;Magnoli et al, 2011), liver and kidney lesions (Ortatatli et al, 2005), immunity damage (Marin et al, 2002), and hematology problems (Zhao et al, 2010). Moreover, the tissue deposition and residue of AFB 1 in poultry has also been determined (Oliveira et al, 2000(Oliveira et al, , 2003.…”