Response of Pullet Chicks to Dietary Fumonisin B1: Growth Indices and Haematological Parameters

Abstract

Growth indices and heamatological parameters of 180 Isa brownpullet chicks fed graded levels of dietary fumonisin B1 (an environmental mycotoxin produced by Fusariumverticillioides) were studied in a feeding trial that lasted nine weeks. The chicks, having similar initial average weights were randomly assigned to four experimental diets containing 0.2, 5.2, 10.2, and 15.2 mgFB1/kg constituting diets 1( control), 2, 3, and 4 respectivelyin a completely randomized design. Each dietary treatment had three replicates of 15 chicks each. The feed intake was monitored daily and the chicks weighed weekly. Blood samples were collected at the end of the trial and analyzed. Results revealed a non-significant (P>0.05) but FB1 concentration dependent decrease in daily feed intake, final live weight and daily weight gain of chicks fed diets 2, 3, and 4 when compared with those on diet 1. Crude protein and ether extract digestibility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) as the dietary FB1 levels increased. The dry matter digestibility of chicks on diets 2, 3, and 4 were 94.77, 95.07 and 94.81 % respectively of the control value. Chicks fed diets containing 10.2 and 15.2 mg FB1/kg suffered significantly (P < 0.05) reduced concentration of erythrocytesand mean corpuscular heamoglobin concentration (MCHC). Lymphocytes significantly decline (lymphopenia) while heterophils significantly increased with increase in dietary FB1 suggesting a condition of immunosuppression and tissue degeneration respectively in chicks fed diets 3 and 4. The study demonstrated that pullets chicks exposed to dietary fumonisin concentration of 10.20mg/kg diet and above would suffer depressed apparent crude protein and ether extract digestibility and decreased synthesis of erythrocyte, MCHC and lymphocytes.