EFFECTS OF FEEDING FUMONISIN B-1 PRESENT IN FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME CULTURE MATERIAL AND AFLATOXIN SINGLY AND IN COMBINATION TO TURKEY POULTS

Diets containing 200 mg fumonisin B-1/kg of feed and .75 mg aflatoxin/ kg of feed singly or in combination were fed to female turkey poults ( Nicholas Large White) from day of hatch to 21 d of age. When compared with controls, 21-d body weight gains were reduced 10% by fumonisin B- 1, 39% by aflatoxins, and 47% by the combination. Relative weights (gr ams/100 g body weight) of the kidney and pancreas increased in poults fed the diet containing aflatoxins alone, whereas the relative weight of the liver decreased. Relative weights of the liver and pancreas inc reased in the poults fed the fumonisin diet. Relative weights of the k idney, pancreas, and gizzard increased in the poults fed the combinati on diet, whereas the relative weight of the liver decreased. Most seru m constituents, hematology values, and activities of enzymes measured were altered in poults receiving the diets containing aflatoxins with or without fumonisin B-1. No major histological lesions were observed in tissues from control poults or poults fed the diet containing fumon isin alone. Lesions associated with aflatoxins were only observed in t he liver and occasionally in the kidney of poults fed the diets contai ning aflatoxins with or without fumonisin B-1. The primary hepatic cha nge was bile duct hyperplasia with some hepatocellular degeneration an d necrosis and megalocytosis. Occasional necrotic and degenerating tub ular epithelial cells were observed in the kidneys. The increased toxi city in poults fed the combination diet for most variables can best be described as additive, although some variables showed less than addit ive toxicity. Although toxicity due to fumonisin B1 was shown, it must be pointed out that these concentrations are not likely to be encount ered under field conditions. However, other stress factors may be pres ent that could alter the toxicity observed under these controlled expe rimental conditions.