DISEASE OUTBREAK IN LAYING HENS ARISING FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF FUMONISIN-CONTAMINATED FOOD

1. During the last quarter of 1995 an unusual disease outbreak charact erised by black sticky diarrhoea, severe reduction in food intake, egg production and body weight follow by lameness and death was observed in 2 layer farms in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 6700 hens of 64 weeks a ge and 3000 hens of 36 weeks age were affected. 2. Around 10% mortalit y and a 20% reduction in egg production was observed. Postmortem exami nations showed pale yellow coloured livers with peripheral congestion, mild haemorrhage in the proventriculus and watery accumulations in th e intestine. 3. The disease was traced to a new batch of food and its withdrawal improved the health status of the flocks. 4. Analysis of th e diet indicated contamination with fumonisin B-1 up to 8.5 mg/kg and with aflatoxin B-1 up to 0.1 mg/kg. 5. Diarrhoea was induced in day ol d cockerels by feeding the suspect diet containing 8.5 mg/kg fumonisin B-1, and in laying hens by feeding a normal diet with fumonisin B-1 a dditions of 8 and 16 mg/kg.