Effect of aflatoxin B1 alone or co-administered with Mycotox NG on the renal function and morphology of turkey broilers.

Abstract

The changes in relative weight of kidneys, blood plasma uric acid, urea, creatinine, calcium and inorganic phosphate, and the morphology of kidneys were investigated in turkey broilers with experimentally induced aflatoxicosis B1 (AFB1) treated or not with a mycosorbent (Mycotox NB). Experiments were carried out with 60 7-day-old female turkey broilers (meat TM strain) divided into one control and five treatment groups (n=10): Group I – control (0 mg/kg AFB1 not supplemented with Mycotox NG); Group II (0.5 g/kg Mycotox NG), Group III (0.2 mg/kg AFB1), Group IV (0.4 mg/kg AFB1), Group V (0.2 mg/kg AFB1 and 0.5 g/kg Mycotox NG) and Group VI (0.4 mg/kg AFB1 and 0.5 g/kg Mycotox NG). The changes in blood parameters were assayed on day 21 and 42. Blood analysis in groups III and IV on day 21 showed increased urea and creatinine concentrations and reduction in blood uric acid, calcium and inorganic phosphate. These changes tended to become more pronounced on day 42. The relative weight of kidneys was increased in groups III and IV after the end of the experiment. Morphological alterations of renal parenchyma in Groups I and II were not present. In birds from group III, desquamation of epithelial cells from the basement membrane, dilated glomerular subcapsular space and round-cell proliferation were noted. In Group V, these changes were far more severe and comprised granular and fatty dystrophy, karyolysis and plasmolysis, necrobiotic to necrotic processes, haemorrhages, congestion. The supplementation of the feed of groups V and VI with the tested toxin binder reduced the severity of reduction of kidneys’ relative weight, magnitude of changes in blood parameters, and the frequency and severity of histological lesions.