AFLATOXICOSIS IN TURKEY POULTS IS PREVENTED BY TREATMENT OF NATURALLYCONTAMINATED CORN WITH OZONE GENERATED BY ELECTROLYSIS

Previous studies have demonstrated that a novel source of ozone gas (O -3) may be used to chemically degrade numerous mycotoxins, including a flatoxin (AF) B-1. Subsequent in vitro analyses demonstrated detoxific ation of AFB(1), suggesting a potential method to remediate AF-contami nated grain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capabilit y of electrochemically produced ozone to degrade AFB(1) in naturally c ontaminated whole kernel corn and confirm detoxification in turkey pou lts. Corn was procured from the southern coastal area of Texas and HPL C revealed 1,220 +/- 73.3 ppb AFB(1). Control and contaminated corn we re treated for 92 h with O-3 at 200 mg/min in 30 kg batches; greater t han 95% reduction of AFB(1) in contaminated corn was achieved. One-day -old female turkey poults were fed 1) control corn, 2) control corn O-3, 3) AFB(1) corn, or 4) AFB(1) corn + O-3 mixed in rations (46% by wt.) and consumed ad libitum for 3 wk. When compared with controls, tu rkeys fed AFB(1) corn had reduced body weight gain and relative liver weight, whereas turkeys fed control corn + O-3 or AFB(1) corn + O-3 di d not differ from controls. Furthermore, alterations in the majority o f relative organ weights, liver discoloration, serum enzyme activity, hematological parameters, and blood chemistry caused by AFB(1) were el iminated (no difference from controls) by treatment with O-3. These da ta demonstrate that treatment of contaminated corn with electrochemica lly produced O-3 provided protection against AFB(1) in young turkey po ults. It is important to note that treatment of control corn with O-3 did not alter the performance of the turkey poults.