FUMONISIN MYCOTOXICOSIS IN BROILERS - WEIGHTS AND SERUM CHEMISTRY MODIFICATIONS

The effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) intoxication in chickens was evaluat ed in three experiments. Two-day-old broiler chicks were fed a diet co ntaining 10 mg pure FB1/kg feed for 6 days; some chicks were necropsie d at this time, and others were allowed to recover for 5 weeks before necropsy. In two other experiments, 2-day-old chicks were fed a broile r starter ration prepared with Fusarium moniliforme culture material c ontaining FB1; one group received 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks, and another re ceived 300 mg FB1/kg for 8 days. Compared with controls, intoxicated c hicks exhibited diarrhea; decreases in body weight and in liver, splee n, and bursa absolute weights; a hepatic relative weight increase; and spleen relative weight decrease. Triglycerides, uric acid levels, and alkaline phosphatase activity decreased, and gamma glutamyl transfera se, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and cholesterol increased. The results indicate that low doses of pur e FB1 (10 mg/kg) and FB1 from Fusarium moniliforme culture material (3 0 mg/kg) are toxic to young chicks.