Effect of aflatoxin, ochratoxin and their interaction on growth performance, immunity and jejunal morphometry of broiler chickens

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of aflatoxin, ochratoxin and their interaction on growth performance, immunity and gut health of broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=288) were divided into 9 treatment groups (T1: control (basal diet); T2: T1+150 ppb AFB1; T3: T1+300 ppb AFB1; T4: T1+150 ppb OTA; T5: T1+250 ppb OTA; T6: T1+150 ppb AFB1+150 ppb OTA; T7: T1+150 ppb AFB1+250 ppb OTA; T8: T1+300 ppb AFB1+150 ppb OTA; T9: T1+300 ppb AFB1+250 ppb OTA). Each diet was fed to 4 replicated groups of 8 birds each from 0 to 42 days of age. The overall body weight gain (BWG) of broilers in control group (T1) was higher (P<0.05) than those of all other treatment groups. The BWG in 150 ppb aflatoxin B1 fed group (T2) was higher(P<0.05) than that of 150 ppb OTA fed group (T4), indicating that OTA was almost two times more toxic than AFB1 in reducing the BWG of broiler chickens. Significantly (P<0.05) lower FI was observed in T9 group compared to all other dietary treatments. Feed contaminated with AFB1 and OTA simultaneously caused severe deterioration of feed conversion efficiency compared to individual mycotoxin. The CMI and humoral immune response was higher (P<0.05) in control group and gradually decreased in other treatment groups. The mean villus length: crypt depth ratio was highest in control group and decreased (P<0.05) in all other treatment groups. The villus length to crypt depth ratio value was lowest in 300 ppb AFB1 +250 ppb OTA fed group (T9) compared to all other treatments. It was concluded thatco-contamination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin caused severe reduction in growth performance compared to individual mycotoxins and combine feeding of aflatoxin (300 ppb) and ochratoxin (250 ppb) led to the synergistic toxicity on body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and immunity in broiler chickens.