VARIATIONS OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF LAYING HENS AND BROILER-CHICKENS FED AFLATOXIN-CONTAINING FEED

Two groups of 32 laying hens (Hyssex Brown) and two groups of 32 23-da y-old (Hybro) broiler chickens were fed 2.5 and 5 parts/10(6) of aflat oxin in their diet for 4, 8, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 chicks wer e maintained as control groups (0 parts/10(6)). After the intoxication period, a clearance period was established of 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Rel ative weights of liver and kidneys significantly increased in intoxica ted hens, but not in broiler chickens. Histological lesions in both ty pes of bird consisted of hepatic cell vacuolation with fatty infiltrat ion. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in egg production in the 5 parts/10(6) group, which started to recover during the clearanc e period. No morbidity or mortality due to the aflatoxicosis were obse rved in either type of bird. In intoxicated laying hens, cholesterol l evels were not significantly (P>0.05) different from control values, b ut triglyceride levels decreased (P<0.001) in both intoxicated groups. The effect of aflatoxin on calcium and phosphorus levels was importan t, because on the 4th day their values decreased significantly. Aspart ate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels remained normal, whereas alani no aminotransferase (ALT) activity decreased in both intoxicated group s. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) increased significantly. In intoxicated broiler chic kens, aflatoxins did not alter (P>0.05) the biochemical parameters stu died, except that the serum calcium concentration was lower in the 5 p arts/10(6) group. These data indicated that in intoxicated laying hens , a severe clinical biochemical alteration was produced, and that this together with the hepatic lesions observed in hens and broilers may a id disease diagnosis.