A. Fernandez et al., CHANGES IN THE PROTHROMBIN TIME, HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM-PROTEINS DURINGEXPERIMENTAL AFLATOXICOSIS IN HENS AND BROILER-CHICKENS, Research in Veterinary Science, 58(2), 1995, pp. 119-122
Two groups of 32 laying hens and two groups of 32, 23-day-oId broiler
chickens were given 2.5 and 5 mg kg(-1) of aflatoxin in their diet for
four, eight, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 broiler chicks served as
control groups. In the laying hens, aflatoxicosis was characterised ma
inly by an increase in prothrombin time, and decreases in total plasma
proteins and albumin levels; there were increases in red blood cell (
RBC) counts and haematocrit which were greater in the group fed 5 mg k
g(-1). There was a decrease in beta-globulins and an increase in gamma
-globulins. In the broiler chickens, there was only a slight increase
in prothrombin time and a decrease in RBC counts. This data proves the
good sensitivity and utility of prothrombin time values as an indicat
or of aflatoxicosis in birds..