INFLUENCE OF OCHRATOXIN-A AND DIACETOXYSCIRPENOL SINGLY AND IN COMBINATION ON BROILER-CHICKENS

The effects of feeding 2 mg ochratoxin A (OA) and 6 mg 4,15-diacetoxys cirpenol (DAS)/kg of diet singly and in combination were characterized in male broiler chicks from 1 to 19 d of age. Body weights were depre ssed by OA, DAS, and the OA-DAS combination. There was a significant a ntagonistic interaction between OA and DAS for uric acid and cholester ol. The efficiency of feed utilization was reduced by DAS alone and by the OA-DAS combination. When compared with controls, additive toxicit y was exhibited for reduced efficiency of feed utilization, increased relative weights of the liver and gizzard, and decreased concentration of serum total protein, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. All chicks were scored for oral lesions using a scale of 1 to 4 (0 = no visible lesions; 3 = severe lesions). Oral lesions (ave rage score = 2.6) were present in over 90% of the chicks receiving the DAS diet with or without OA. These data demonstrate that both OA and DAS alone and the OA-DAS combination can adversely affect broiler perf ormance and health.