Preventive efficacy of clinoptilolite in broilers during chronic aflatoxin(50 and 100 ppb) exposure

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of clinoptilol ite (CLI, a natural zeolite) in the prevention of toxic effects of aflatoxi n (AF). A total of 576 1-day-old Ross broiler chicks were housed in six tre atment groups [six replicates of 16 each; control, CLI (15 g kg(-1) diet), 50 parts per billion (ppb) AF, 50 ppb AF plus CLI, 100 ppb AF, 100 ppb AF p lus CLI] for 42 days. Compared to controls, 100 ppb AF treatment significan tly decreased body weight gains of chicks. The addition of CLI to the 100 p pb Accontaining diet moderately reduced the adverse effects of AF On perfor mances of chicks. The chicks consuming 50 ppb AF-containing diet showed no significant differences on investigated parameters compared to controls. Al so. the single addition of CLI to the AF-free diet had no adverse effects i n birds. These results suggest that CLI can be beneficial in broilers for p rotection of AF toxicity at the level above. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers L td.