INDIVIDUAL AND COMBINED EFFECTS OF FEEDING FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME CULTURE MATERIAL, CONTAINING KNOWN LEVELS OF FUMONISIN-B1, AND AFLATOXIN-B1IN THE YOUNG TURKEY POULT

The individual and combined effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and aflatoxi n B1 (AF) were evaluated using a 2 x 2 factorial with treatments of 0 and 75 mg FB1/kg feed and 0 and 200 mug AF/kg feed. Each of the four d iets was fed to eight pen replicates of six poults from Day 1 to 21. B ody weight gain was reduced (P < .05) by AF and the FB1-AF combination . Poults fed AF or the FB1-AF combination were less efficient (P < .05 ) in converting feed to gain. Fumonisin B1 increased (P < .05) liver w eights whereas AF and the FB1-AF combination increased (P < .05) splee n weights. The AF and the FB1-AF combination decreased (P < .05) serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, and cholesterol. Fumonisin B1 and the FB1-AF combination increased (P < .05) serum sphinganine:sp hingosine (SA:SO) ratios. Treatment-associated lesions were observed o nly in the liver. Hepatocellular hyperplasia and biliary hyperplasia w ere seen in poults fed 75 mg FB1/kg and 200 mug AF/kg, respectively. T he combination of FB1 and AF caused an increased primary immune respon se to sheep red blood cells. However, the phytohemagglutinin delayed h ypersensitivity response was not affected by dietary treatment. These data indicate that FB1 and AF, alone and in combination, can adversely affect poult performance and health at these dietary concentrations.