Progression of Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The progression of aflatoxicosis was evaluated in young broiler chickens (Hubbard X Hubbard). The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments of aflatoxin (0, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 micrograms of aflatoxin/g of feed, ppm) and 11 replicates of 10 broilers/replicate. The broilers were maintained in electrically heated batteries with feed and water available ad libitum from hatching to 3 weeks of age. The broilers were weighed, bled, killed by cervical dislocation, and necropzied at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, and 21 days of age. Body weights were significantly decreased by 5.0 ppm aflatoxin at 6 days of age and by 2.5 ppm at 17 days of age. Aflatoxin induced a significant increase in the relative weight of the proventriculus, gizzard, spleen, and kidney. Liver atrophy was indicated in the early stages of aflatoxicosis by a decrease in the relative weight of this organ. As aflatoxicosis progressed, hepatomegaly became apparent due to lipid accumulation in the liver. Packed-cell volume and hemoglobin levels were significantly decreased by 5.0 ppm aflatoxin at 12 days and by 2.5 ppm aflatoxin at 21 days of age. Serum levels of albumin and total protein were significantly reduced at 5.0 and 2.5 ppm aflatoxin by 3 and 6 days of age, respectively. Serum levels of uric acid, triglycerides, and cholesterol were significantly decreased from control values from 12 through 21 days of age by 5.0 ppm aflatoxin and, to a lesser extent, by 2.5 ppm aflatoxin. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase was significantly decreased at all aflatoxin treatment levels from 12 through 21 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Effect of Dietary Aflatoxin on Wild Turkey Poults

“…The decreased relative liver weights of our aflatoxin-fed poults (Table 1) is consistent with previous studies of domestic poults (Gumbmann et al, 1970;Weibking et al, 1994). Studies in chickens indicate that the liver is the organ most sensitive to the effects of aflatoxin (Huff et al, 1986). Reported alterations in weights of other organs vary, which previously has been speculated to be due to the different forms of aflatoxin and different concentrations of aflatoxin metabolites used in each study (Weibking et al, 1994).…”

“…Reductions in serum triglycerides also have been reported in chickens with high levels of aflatoxin exposure (Huff et al, 1986). This is compatible with the compromised hepatic function and hepatocellular damage indicated in these wild turkey poults by hypoalbuminemia, hypoproteinemia, and increased aspartate aminotransferase activity.…”

“…It is unknown whether the increased hematocrits seen in our wild turkeys were a direct effect of aflatoxin exposure, or whether they were secondary to other conditions. Because the anemia induced by aflatoxins in chickens begins after 17 to 21 days of aflatoxin ingestion (Huff et al, 1986), it may be that a more prolonged feeding trial in wild turkeys would be necessary for such an anemia to develop. Bone marrow granulocytic hyperplasia has been speculated to be the cause of heterophilia in chickens fed aflatoxin (Tung et al, 1975), but alternate explanations for the heterophilia seen in our poults includes an inflammatory response or a response to stress such as is observed in chickens (Siegel, 1971).…”

Variations of clinical biochemical parameters of laying hens and broiler chickens fed aflatoxin‐containing feed

“…In intoxicated broilers, no variations in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, or phosphorus concentrations were found, in agreement with other authors describing aflatoxicosis in 1-day-old chicks (Tung et al, 1972;Huff et al, 1986;Manning et al, 1990a,b). Nor did we find significant variations (P> 0.05) in any enzyme levels, in agreement with Ostrowski-Meissner (1984) in serum of chicks intoxicated by aflatoxins, indicating that enzyme levels do not provide a sufficiently precise diagnosis of aflatoxicosis.…”

“…Smith & Hamilton (1970) described an increase of relative liver weight during aflatoxicosis in broilers. Huff et al (1986) found in broilers, at the beginning of intoxication, liver atrophy, reflecting an inhibition of liver maturation in the early stages of aflatoxicosis and later hepatomegaly. A reduction of liver size in lambs intoxicated by 2.6 parts/10 6 of aflatoxin has been described (Harvey et al, 1991).…”