EVALUATION OF HERBOMINERAL TOXIN BINDER IN EXPERIMENTAL AFLATOXICOSIS IN BROILER CHICKEN
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Date
1999
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Publisher
AAU, Anand
Abstract
The present study on experimental induction of aflatoxicosis was undertaken with a view to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B1 on performance of broiler chicks at 0.5 and 1.0 ppm dose level as well as to evaluate the efficacy of Herbomineral Toxic Binder (HTB) at 1.25 and 2.5 kg per tonne of feed as an adsorbent and hepatoprotective agent. The experimental design consisted of 315 birds equally distributed into nine groups comprising of 35 birds in each group. Birds in-group A were fed with control diet. Birds from groups B and C received aflatoxin B1 at the rate of 0.5 and 1.0 ppm respectively in the feed. Groups D and E were treated with 0.125 and 0.25 percent level of HTB respectively along with 0.5 ppm of aflatoxin B1. Similarly, groups F and G were supplemented with 0.125 and 0.25 percent level of HTB respectively along with 1.0 ppm of aflatoxin B1. The last two groups H and I received HTB alone at the rate of 0.125 and 0.25 percent respectively in the feed. Five birds from each group were sacrificed at weekly interval for the period of six weeks and the detailed study was made for the evaluation of different set parameters. The experiment started with production of aflatoxin B1 on rice and its quantification in moudly rice as well as in feed prepared for dietary schedule. The different parameters included, weekly body weight, weekly weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio to evaluate the general performance of the birds. The biochemical parameters included total serum proteins, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides. The gross and histopathological lesions of organs collected viz.. Liver, kidney and bursa of Fabricious were also recorded. The establishment of aflatoxicosis was confirmed on gross and histopathological lesions. This was further supported by significant decrease in the values of total serum proteins, serum cholesterol and triglycerides and an increase in the values of serum ALT and AST at both the levels of 0.5 and 1.0 ppm of aflatoxin B1. The body weight and body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency were also affected by aflatoxin during the study. The severity was dose dependent in nature. Liver appeared to be the target organ involved in aflatoxicosis. From third week onwards the gross lesions in the liver were characterised by enlargement and pale yellowish discoloration of the organ The liver also appeared fatty and fragile. From fourth week onwards, the kidneys showed mild enlargement and paleness while bursa of Fabricious revealed mild atrophy. Histopathological lesions in liver were marked by mild to moderate vascular congestion and hemorrhages, moderate to severe fatty changes, focal to diffuse areas of infiltration of mononuclear cells, and mild to moderate hyperplasia of bile duct epithelium. The kidney lesions comprised of mild to moderate congestion, focal areas of tubular hemorrhages, focal to diffuse tubular degeneration and infiltration of mononuclear cells. HTB + aflatoxin fed groups showed significant improvement over their respective aflatoxin fed birds. Marked improvement was observed on HTB supplementation at the rate of 2.5 kg per tonne of feed. A significant increase in body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency was noticed in HTB + aflatoxin fed groups. The biochemical parameters also showed a significant improvement in these groups over their respective aflatoxin treated groups. The histopathological lesions in the liver and kidneys showed the same trend of improvement characterised by mild lesions as compared to their aflatoxin treated groups. The findings suggested that by supplementation of HTB at 0.25 percent level there is restoration of damaging effects of aflatoxin Overall nature of the findings suggested that aflatoxicosis can be induced at both the levels of 0.5 and 1.0 ppm of aflatoxin but marked effects can be achieved at 1.0-ppm level. It has adverse effects on performance and general health of the birds. HTB supplementation was found to be effective in improving general health and performance by combating or restoring the damage caused by aflatoxin at the dose level of 2.5 kg per tonne of feed.
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Keywords
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY, EVALUATION