The individual and combined effects of aflatoxin (AF) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) were evaluated in day-old Petersen x Hubbard broiler chickens to 3 wk of age. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with levels of 0 and 3.5 mg AF/kg of feed, and 0 and 50 mg CPA/kg of feed. Production performance, serum biochemistry, and gross pathological observations were evaluated. Body weight gain was significantly (P less than .05) reduced by AF, CPA, and the AF-CPA combination at the end of 3 wk. Aflatoxin significantly increased the relative weight of the kidney and serum concentration of blood urea nitrogen and decreased serum concentrations of protein, albumin, cholesterol, phosphorus, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase. The toxicity of CPA was expressed through increased relative weights of the liver, kidney, and proventriculus, increased levels of uric acid and cholesterol, and decreased serum phosphorus. The activity of AF-CPA combination was characterized by increased relative weight of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and proventriculus, decreased concentrations of serum albumin and phosphorus, increased concentrations of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and blood urea nitrogen, and decreases in the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius. Post-mortem examination revealed that the chickens fed CPA and the AF-CPA combination had thickened mucosa and dilated proventricular lumens, hard fibrotic spleen, and atrophy of the gizzard. The data from the present study demonstrate that both AF and CPA alone and the AF-CPA combination can limit broiler performance and adversely affect broiler health. In most cases the effects of AF and CPA were additive.

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synopsisElectron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of freeradical intermediates formed during photo-initiated graft polymerization reactions of acrylamide, methacrylamide, and diacetone acrylamide onto purified cotton cellulose were recorded. Purified cellulose was saturated with aqueous solutions of the vinyl monomers (0.5M) and then photolyzed under nitrogen by near-ultraviolet light (31004100 d, peak near 3500 d) at -196" and 40°C. Other samples of cellulose were saturated with aqueous solutions of the monomers, dried, and then photolyzed at 40°C. In the absence of cellulose, either poorly resolved or no freeradical spectra were generated on photolysis of the monomers.Photolysis of dried cellulose al 40°C and wet cellulose at -196°C initiated formation of a cellulosic radical that generated a singlet spectrum. Photolysis of wet cellulose at 40°C generated no ESR detectable radical; however, photolysis of wet cellulose that contained monomer at 40°C generated poorly resolved spectra. The ESR spectra of the propagating copolymer radicals recorded were poly (acrylamide), three lines; poly-(methacrylamide), five lines; and poly(diacetone acrylamide), two lines (doublet).