The effect on performance and biochemical parameters when soil was added to aflatoxin-contaminated poultry rations

The effects of silty clay loam soil on the performance and biochemical para meters of chicks were investigated when the soil was added to aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1))-contaminated diets. One hundred 14-d-old White Leghorn chicks wer e fed a control ration (clean corn), a low aflatoxin-contaminated ration (1 20 ng AFB(1)/g), a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB(1)/g), or high aflatoxin-contaminated rations (700 ng AFB(1)/g) + 10% or 25% soil. B ody weight, feed consumption and blood samples were monitored weekly. Decre ased feed consumption, body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization, increased SGOT and LDH activities, and cholesterol and triglyceride concen trations, and decreased uric acid concentrations and ALP activity were obse rved in the chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Hepatomegaly was prominent in chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated r at ion without soil, and some livers had extensive hepatocyte vacuolation, hepatocellular swelling, fatty change and hydropic degeneration, and staine d positive for fat accumulation. Addition of soil reduced the detrimental e ffects of AFB(1) for some parameters, although the reduction was less when 10% soil was fed compared with the 25% soil feeding.