Effects of Purified Aflatoxin on Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Purified aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or AFB1 plus aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) was given daily for 5 weeks in gelatin capsules to 2-week-old feather-sexed broilers. In Experiment 1, pure AFB1 was given in doses equivalent to the quantity of toxin received, if diets containing either 0, 200, 500 or 1000 ppb of AFB1 were consumed. In Experiment 2, pure AFB1 or AFB1 plus B2 was administered in capsules in doses equivalent to the quantity of toxin received, if diets containing either 0, 100, 200, or 400 ppb of AFB1 were consumed. In Experiment 1, pure AFB1 greater than or equal to 500 ppb was only mildly toxic. These levels produced a significant decrease in the 5-week weight gain and microscopic lesions indicative of alfatoxicosis. No morbidity, mortality, or effects on feed conversion or immune responses, however, were noted in birds given pure AFB1 at these levels. Gross liver lesions indicative of aflatoxin toxicity occurred at the 1000 ppb only. Results of Experiment 2 were similar to the first. Weight gain and feed conversion were not affected for broilers receiving pure AFB1 as low as 200 ppb. No morbidity, mortality, or gross lesions were evident in birds given either pure AFB1 or AFB1 plus AFB2 as high as 400 ppb. However, cell-mediated immunity as measured by a delayed hypersensitive skin test was significantly affected in birds receiving 400 ppb AFB1 plus AFB2. No effects on humoral immunity or the development of acquired immunity to Newcastle disease or fowl cholera vaccination were noted.

Performance and Cell-Mediated and Humoral Immune Responses in Broilers Fed an Aflatoxin Supplemented Diet

“…However, those fed 500 ppb AFB, and 750 ppb AFB, were significantly lighter (P<0.05) than the controls (Table 2). These data agree with other reports (Giambrone et al, 1985a and1985b), in which a significant reduction in body weight in five-week-old broilers was observed only when fed a diet supplemented with at least 500 ppb AFB,.…”

“…These data agree with those from previous studies in which the degree of immunosuppression was found to be directly related to the concentration of AFB, using the hemagglutinins produced in response to SRBC ("haxton et al, 1974). However, in another study using Pasteurella multocidu as the antigen, no significant reduction in antibody titer was observed when chicks were fed graded levels of AFB, (Giambrone et al, 1985a). Data collected in the present study indicate that AFB, at a dietary concentration of 250 ppb is a potent immunosuppressant in the broiler.…”

Ameliorative efficacy of citrus oil in aflatoxin induced changes in lymphoid organs in broilers-A pathomorphological evaluation

“…Aflatoxin has many adverse effects, of which immunotoxicity is one of the important toxicity reported in birds (Giambrone et al, 1985, Celik et al, 2000. Aflatoxin affects the immune organs mainly due to formation of DNA adduct in fast dividing lymphoid cells which leads to profound immunodeficiency by hampering the development and maturation of lymphoid organs (Dietert et al, 1985;Neldon-Ortiz and Qureshi, 1992).…”

Reduction of toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 by using baker yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in growing broiler chicks diets

“…Data of this research showed that AFB 1 levels as low as 200 ng/g could affect liver enzymes of broiler chicks. Giambrone (1985) showed that the development of acquarid immunity in turkeys and broilers was significantly when given 200 ng/g of pure AFB 1 capsules. According to Wogan (1974), dietary aflatoxin levels 100 ng/g induced liver carcinoma at an incidence greater than 50%, when feeding was continued up to 80 weeks.…”