Effects of Feeding Fusarium moniliforme Culture Material, Containing Known Levels of Fumonisin B1, in the Young Turkey Poult

Abstract

The effects of feeding Fusarium moniliforme culture material, containing known concentrations of fumonisin B1 (FB1), were studied in turkey poults. Day-old poults were allotted randomly to dietary treatments containing 0, 0.41, 0.82, 1.23, 1.64. 2.87, 4.10, 5.33, 6.56, and 7.79% fumonisin culture material (FCM). These levels of FCM supplied 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 175, 250, 325, 400, and 475 mg FB1/kg of feed. Each dietary treatment was fed to six pen replicates of six poults each for 21 d. Poults fed FCM that supplied 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg diet had lower (P < 0.05) feed intakes and BW gains. Increased (P < 0.05) liver and pancreas weights were observed in poults fed FCM that supplied > or = to 175 mg FB1/kg. Poults fed FCM that supplied 400 and 475 mg FB1/kg diet had increased (P < 0.05) red blood cell counts and increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Compared with controls, poults fed FCM that supplied 25, and 75 to 475 mg FB1/kg had increased (P < 0.05) liver sphinganine:sphingosine ratios. Hepatocellular hyperplasia was mild at 75 and 100 mg FB1/kg diet, moderate to severe at 250 mg/kg FB1, and severe at 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg. Multifocal to generalized loss of cross striations and thinning of cardiomyocytes was observed in poults fed FCM that supplied 475 mg FB1/kg diet. Results indicated that diets containing < or = to 1.23% FCM that supplied > or = to 75 mg FB1 /kg are toxic to young turkeys.

Individual and Combined Effects of Fusarium moniliforme Culture Material, Containing Known Levels of Fumonisin B1, and Salmonella Gallinarum Infection on Liver of Japanese Quail

“…Quail fed FB 1 alone showed mild to moderate enlargement and pale discoloration of the liver at various intervals. Increased liver weights have been reported in previous studies in poults fed 25 to 475 mg FB 1 /kg (22,40,41,43) and in broilers fed 100 to 400 mg FB 1 /kg (5,23). The lesions of hepatocellular hyperplasia and biliary hyperplasia observed in quail fed fumonisin in the present study are consistent with previous reports in turkeys and broiler chicks (22,42).…”

“…FB 1 is considered to be the most biologically active, heat-stable, and carcinogenic compound (32). Though the target organs of fumonisin toxicity are species specific, the primary target organ in chickens and turkeys is the liver (2,22,41,42), and this does not seem to be an exception in quail. Quail fed FB 1 alone showed mild to moderate enlargement and pale discoloration of the liver at various intervals.…”

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to fumonisins as undesirable substances in animal feed

“…In a later study (Ledoux et al, 1996) F. moniliforme culture material containing total amounts of fumonisins (FB 1, FB 2 and FB 3 ) ranging between 33 and 627 mg/kg feed was given to oneday old chickens for a period of 21 days. Birds showed a dose-dependent reduced weight gain and reduced feed conversion.…”

Toxicological and Pathological Effects of Mycotoxins in Poultry in Saudi Arabia

“…In comparison to horses and swine, 2 susceptible species, chicks, and turkeys are relatively resistant to the toxic effects of FB1. The primary changes in chicks, ducks, and turkeys have decreased body weight gain and liver pathology [18][19][20][21] . Hepatic changes in chicks were multifocal hepatic necrosis and biliary hyperplasia [20,21] .…”