EFFECTS OF FEEDING FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME CULTURE MATERIAL, CONTAINING KNOWN LEVELS OF FUMONISIN B-1, IN THE YOUNG TURKEY POULT

The effects of feeding Fusarium moniliforme culture material, containi ng known concentrations of fumonisin B-1 (FB1), were studied in turkey poults. Day-old poults were allotted randomly to dietary treatments c ontaining 0, 0.41, 0.82, 1.23, 1.64, 2.87, 4.10, 5.33, 6.56, and 7.79% fumonisin culture material (FCM). These levels of FCM supplied 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 175, 250, 325, 400, and 475 mg FB1/kg of feed. Each diet ary treatment was fed to six pen replicates of six poults each for 21 d. Poults fed FCM that supplied 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg diet had lower (P < 0.05) feed intakes and BW gains. Increased (P < 0.05) liver and pan creas weights were observed in poults fed FCM that supplied greater th an or equal to 175 mg FB1/kg. Poults fed FCM that supplied 400 and 475 mg FB1/kg diet had increased (P < 0.05) red blood cell counts and inc reased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase a nd aspartate aminotransferase. Compared with controls, poults fed FCM that supplied 25, and 75 to 475 mg FB1/kg had increased (P < 0.05) liv er sphinganine:sphingosine ratios. Hepatocellular hyperplasia was mild at 75 and 100 mg FB1/kg diet, moderate to severe at 250 mg/kg FB1, an d severe at 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg. Multifocal to generalized loss of cr oss striations and thinning of cardiomyocytes was observed in poults f ed FCM that supplied 475 mg FB1/kg diet. Results indicated that diets containing greater than or equal to 1.23% FCM that supplied greater th an or equal to 75 mg FB1/kg are toxic to young turkeys.