The toxicity of purified fumonisin B-1 in broiler chicks

An investigation of the toxicity of fumonisin B-1 (FB1), a toxic metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme, in broiler chicks was conducted. Purified FB1 (98 .1% pure) was incorporated into the diets of broiler chicks at 0, 20, 40, a nd 80 mg/kg, and fed to chicks from 0 to 21 d of age. Dietary FB1, at conce ntrations of 80 mg/kg or less, did not adversely affect body weight, feed e fficiency, or water consumption of broiler chicks. The relative weights of the liver, spleen, kidney, proventriculus, and bursa of Fabricius were also unaffected (P < 0.05) by any dietary concentration of FB1 compared with th e control (0 mg/kg) group. Total liver lipids of chicks fed 40 or 80 mg FB1 /kg were significantly lower than those of the chicks fed either 0 or 20 mg FB1/kg of feed. Liver sphinganine concentration and the sphinganine:sphing osine ratio were increased significantly in all treated groups. Chicks fed dietary FB1 at 80 mg/kg had significantly higher serum glutamate oxaloaceta te aminotransaminase:aspartate aminotransferase ratios and levels of free s phinganine in the serum. The results of this investigation agree with the r esults previously described, in which FB1 was supplied to diets from the us e of F. moniliforme-contaminated grain; therefore, the use of such material as the source of the mycotoxin in animal feeding studies is appropriate.