Performance and biochemical parameters of broiler chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated and ammonia-treated corn

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AF), natural contaminants of food stuffs and are toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Aflatoxins damage the liver, kidney and thymus resulting in a variety of effects including decreased growth rate, poor productivity and immunosuppression. Recently we have reported that ammonia solution can directly inhibit aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus in culture growth (Namazi et al., 2001). A study was conducted to determine the efficacy ammoniation of contaminated-corn with aflatoxin in decreasing aflatoxin in diet of broiler chicks and its effects on production and biochemical parameters.