Liver Lipid Levels in White Leghorn Hens Fed Diets That Contained Wheat Contaminated by Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)

Abstract

Three genotypes of White Leghorn hens were fed diets containing either clean wheat (<.02 ppm deoxynivalenol in diet) or deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) contaminated wheat (.35 or .70 ppm deoxynivalenol in diet) for 86 or 135 days. Lipid analyses indicated that the percent total lipid and the triglyceride content of livers from birds receiving the vomitoxin contaminated diets were significantly higher than for birds receiving the clean diet. However, the livers of birds receiving the .35 ppm diet had the highest percent total lipid and triglycerides. Livers from control birds contained 11.5% total lipid with 420 mg triglyceride per liver; livers from the .35 ppm birds had 16.7% total lipid, 785 mg triglyceride; livers from the .70 ppm birds had 13.4% total lipid, 548 mg triglyceride. Liver phospholipid content did not appear to be affected by the deoxynivalenol content of the diet. Both genotype and level of vomitoxin in the diet significantly affected liver cholesterol levels.