Influence of Ochratoxin A and Diacetoxyscirpenol Singly and in Combination on Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The effects of feeding 2 mg ochratoxin A (OA) and 6 mg 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)/kg of diet singly and in combination were characterized in male broiler chicks from 1 to 19 d of age. Body weights were depressed by OA, DAS, and the OA-DAS combination. There was a significant antagonistic interaction between OA and DAS for uric acid and cholesterol. The efficiency of feed utilization was reduced by DAS alone and by the OA-DAS combination. When compared with controls, additive toxicity was exhibited for reduced efficiency of feed utilization, increased relative weights of the liver and gizzard, and decreased concentration of serum total protein, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. All chicks were scored for oral lesions using a scale of 1 to 4 (0 = no visible lesions; 3 = severe lesions). Oral lesions (average score = 2.6) were present in over 90% of the chicks receiving the DAS diet with or without OA. These data demonstrate that both OA and DAS alone and the OA-DAS combination can adversely affect broiler performance and health.

Blood serum protein status in broilers fed with increasing concentrations of ochratoxin A

“…Total protein concentration was mostly in agreement with the values described as physiological (Sirvydis et al 2006;Stevanovi} et al 1990). Similar results were reported by some authors (Kubena et al, 1985b;Kubena et al 1989;Kubena et al, 1994) although several authors (Ayed et al, 1991;Singh et al, 1990) reported somewhat higher values as normal proteinaemia in broilers. In the blood serum of experimental groups, mild differences influenced by OTA treatment were seen, but with no statistical significance.…”

“…In the blood serum of experimental groups, mild differences influenced by OTA treatment were seen, but with no statistical significance. These findings did not confirm the results obtained by Kubena et al, (1985b); Kubena et al, (1989); Kubena et al, (1994) who suggested that the total blood serum protein concentration significantly decreased after treatment with OTA. On the other hand, the obtained results confirmed the findings of others authors (Huff and Ruff, 1981;Singh et al, 1990) who suggested that the total blood serum protein concentration was not significantly decreased after treatment with lower levels of dietary OTA.…”

“…Our results may be explained by the lower level of dietary OTA, as well as by the shorter duration of intoxication than in the Kubena studies (Kubena et al, 1985b;Kubena et al, 1989;Kubena et al, 1994). The target organs for OTA toxicity in the animals are the kidneys with resulting failure to reabsorb the water and consequent increase of water consumption.…”

“…According to literature data (Bailey et al, 1990;Kubena et al, 1985a;Kubena et al, 1994) globulin concentration is higher than albumin concentration in the blood serum. Contrary, according to our results, seven days of treating with the toxin led to a dosedependent decrease in the concentration of total serum globulins in treated broilers, but only the highest dose of toxin (1.5 mg/kg feed) showed significant effects.…”

“…These data are consistent with several earlier reports. Kubena et al (1994) described a significant decrease of blood serum total protein and albumin, as well as A/G ratio in broilers treated with 2 mg/kg OTA during three weeks. Singh et al (1990) fed broilers with 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg dietary OTA during three weeks, but significantly decreased blood serum levels of total protein, albumin and globulin were confirmed only after treatment with higher dosage of OTA.…”