Performance, immune response and blood biochemical traits of broiler chickens fed graded levels of dietary aflatoxin and ochratoxin combination

Feed quality in terms of nutritional content is plays pivotal role in achieving desired production. Amongst the several factors which alter the quality of feed, inevitable fungal toxins that compromise the nutritive content quite often had taken attention posing serious health hazards on birds and humans as well. Moulds/Fungi are accomplished of reducing the nutritional value of feedstuffs as well as expanding some mycotoxins. Mycotoxin adulterated feed has adverse effects on poultry health and productivity. The present study aimed to study the effect of dietary supplementation of graded levels of dietary aflatoxin and ochratoxin combination on performance, immune response and blood biochemical traits of broiler chickens.

A 42 days biological trial was conducted to study the effect of graded levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin (OTA) combination in the diet for production, immune response and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were divided into five (5) treatment groups (T_r control; T₂: T, + 100 ppb AFB,+ 100 ppb OTA; T₃: T, + 100 ppb AFB,+ 200 ppb OTA; T₄:T, + 250 ppb AFB,+ 100 ppb OTA; and T₅: T, + 250 ppb AFB,+ 200 ppb OTA) and each treatment was fed to 6 replicated groups of 8 birds each.

Body weight gain (BWG) was significantly lower in T₃, T₄ and T₅ group and feed intake (FI) in all the toxin supplemented groups was statistically similar but numerically higher compared to control group. Significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in 0–42 d at T₁ and T₂ group. The cell mediated immunity (CMI) and humoral immunity (haem-agglutination- HA titre) in higher doses of aflatoxin and ochratoxin combined fed group (T₅) was lower (P<0.05). The liver damage enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were increased (P<0.05) in broilers fed on diet containing aflatoxin and ochratoxin combinations. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in serum uric acid and cholesterol level at T₃, T₄ and T₅ dietary treated groups. No significant (P>0.05) changes observed in total protein and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration. Thus, it may be concluded that combination of Aflatoxin B1 (100 ppb) and ochratoxin A (100 ppb) in basal diet had no adverse effect on growth performance, immune response and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicken.