| INTRODUC TI ONMycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites of the fungi that grow on feedstuffs in the field or during their storage, and they are known to cause health problems or death if ingested by human or animals (Qazi & Fayyaz, 2006). Aflatoxins (AFs) produced by the fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are considered one of the most toxic metabolites which contaminate feed and feed ingredients all over the world. In farm animals including rabbit which represents one of the most sensitive species to AF toxicity, the consumption of diets contaminated with AFs resulted in anorexia, decreased feed intake, altered feed utilization, reduced weight gain, inhibited growth, immune suppression, increased susceptibility to different stressors and diseases and increased mortality rate, altered reproductive
AbstractThe present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with some feed additives (potassium sorbate; Sor, hydrated sodium calcium almuniosilicate; Hsc and L-methionine; L-M) against aflatoxin B1 (AF) toxicity in rabbits. A total of 72 growing rabbits (5-week-old) were distributed into six equal groups (4 replicates with 3 rabbits each). The experimental groups are as follows:control group, AF group (supplemented with AF 0.3 mg/kg diet), AF + Sor group (AF 0.3 mg/kg diet + Sor 2 g/kg diet), AF + Hsc group (AF 0.3 mg/kg diet + Hsc 5 g/kg diet), AF + L-M group (AF 0.3 mg/kg diet + L-M 8 g/kg diet) and AF + Mix group (AF 0.3 mg/kg diet + 2 Sor + 5 Hsc + 8 L-M g/kg diet). Live body weight and weight gain at 13 weeks of age were significantly reduced by AF. Feed intake at 13 weeks of age was decreased in AF, AF + Hsc and AF + Mix compared to the control. AF, AF + Hsc and AF + Mix showed the lowest total antioxidant capacity compared to the control.The highest level of reactive oxygen species and 8-Hydroxy-2-desoxyguanosine was observed in AF group. Using of other supplements with AF increased immunoglobu-linM than AF alone. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Sor, L-M, Hsc or their mixture was effective in reducing the adverse effects of AF on performance, antioxidant and immune status of rabbits with more better improvement obtained by Sor or L-M separately.
K E Y W O R D SAFB1, antioxidant, growth, Hsc, immunity, methionine, potassium sorbate, rabbits | 197 REDA Et Al.