Vicine and Convicine in Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) Seeds Enhance β-Cyanoalanine Toxicity in Male Broiler Chicks

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding raw and water-soaked vetch seeds to male broiler chicks on performance, organ weights, and blood parameters. Intact and ground vetch seeds were soaked in water (1:5) at room temperature for 24 hours (study 1), and (1:10) at 40 degrees C for 24, 48, and 72 hours, with water change every 12 hours (study 2). In study 1, untreated vetch contained, on dry matter basis, 0.530%, 0.731%, and 0.081% total beta-cyanoalanine (BCA), vicine, and convicine, respectively. Toxins were not appreciably reduced in soaked intact and ground vetch. Diets containing untreated, soaked intact, and soaked ground vetch, each at 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%, were fed to 7-day-old male broilers until onset of neurotoxicity symptoms. Survival time was not only decreased by BCA level but also by those of vicine and convicine (p <.05). In study 2, 60% of untreated or treated vetch seeds were incorporated in chick diets. Although untreated vetch used in this study contained 32% less BCA but 8% and 81% more vicine and convicine, respectively, yet, the chicks on 60% untreated vetch showed toxicity symptoms earlier than those of study 1. Soaking ground vetch for 48 hours or more reduced BCA and totally removed vicine and convicine. Consequently, birds on 60% ground vetch soaked for 48 and 72 hours survived through the starter period and had mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and organ weights comparable to those of control at 4 days post trial. The results indicated that "high levels" of vicine or convicine or both might have shortened the birds' survival time by enhancing the neurotoxicity induced by "lower levels" of BCA.

Potential value of the common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as an animal feedstuff: a review

“…In a further study, Farran et al. () studied the vicine and convicine contents of common vetch seeds soaked in 40 °C water (at a concentration of 1:10 seeds:water) for 24, 48 or 72 h, with the water changed every 12 h, were significantly reduced to, respectively, 61.56%, 82.99%; 50.95%, 68.03% and 33.37%, 46.25%, compared with that in raw common vetch seeds, and ground effect was better. Doblado et al.…”

Nodding syndrome in Mundri county, South Sudan: Environmental, nutritional and infectious factors

“…This was noteworthy because the Blanche Fleur variety of the common vetch (Vicia sativa), a legume of similar appearance to red lentil but with neurotoxic potential, was sold from Australia for human food use in North Africa and the Middle East contemporaneous with the reported first appearance of Nodding Syndrome in Mundri County in 1991. 40 Vicia sativa contains two pyrimidine cyanogenic gamma-glycosides (vicine and convicine) and beta-glutamyl-gamma-cyanoalanine, a neurotoxic component primarily present in seed as the gamma-glutamyl derivative [41][42][43] . BetaCyanoalanine induces hyperexcitability, convulsions, and rigidity in chicks and rats after oral or intraperitoneal administration, apparently via a glutamatergic action mediated directly or indirectly by neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.…”

Effect of the Antibiotic Neomycin on the Toxicity of the Glycoside Vicine in Rats

“…In broiler chicken, reduction of vicine and convicine contents significantly increases the apparent metabolizable energy value [14]. Moreover, Farran et al [15] stated that high levels of vicine or convicine or both might have shortened birds' survival time by enhancing the neurotoxicity induced by lower levels of total beta-cyanoalanine (BCA).…”