THE CHRONIC EFFECTS OF FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME CULTURE MATERIAL, CONTAINING KNOWN LEVELS OF FUMONISIN B-1, IN TURKEYS

Fourteen 1-day-old male turkeys were randomly assigned to two adjacent floor pens and fed balanced rations containing 0 and 75 mg fumonisin B-1 (FB1)/kg for 18 weeks. Inclusion of FB1 in the ration caused decre ased body weight gain on weeks 4, 10, and 12 during the trial. Turkeys fed 75 mg FB1/kg had significantly heavier livers after treatment for 18 weeks. Chronic FB1 exposure resulted in an increased total white b lood cell count, absolute heterophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. No mortality was noted in turkeys in either treatment group. Turkeys are relatively resistant to chroni c FB1 exposure.