INDIVIDUAL AND COMBINED EFFECTS OF FUMONISIN B-1 PRESENT IN FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME CULTURE MATERIAL AND T-2 TOXIN OR DEOXYNIVALENOL IN BROILER CHICKS

The individual and combined effects of feeding diets containing 300 mg fumonisin B-1 (FB1), and 5 mg T-2 toxin (T-2)/kg of diet, or 15 mg/kg deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) from naturally contaminated wheat wer e evaluated in two studies in male broiler chicks from day of hatch to 19 or 21 d of age in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. When compared with controls, body weight gains were reduced 18 to 20% by FB1, 18% b y T-2, 2% by DON, 32% by the FB1 and T-2 combination, and 19% by the F B1 and DON combination. The efficiency of feed utilization was adverse ly affected by FB1 with or without T-2 or DON. Mortality ranged from n one for the controls to 15% for the FB1 and T-2 combination. Relative weights of the liver and kidney were significantly increased by FB1 wi th or without T-2 or DON. Serum concentrations of cholesterol were inc reased in chicks fed FBI with or without T-2 or DON. Activities of asp artate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyltran sferase were increased in chicks fed FB1 at 300 mg/kg alone and in com bination with T-2 or DON, indicating possible tissue damage and leakag e of the enzymes into the blood. Results indicate additive toxicity wh en chicks were fed diets containing 300 mg FB1 and 5 mg T-2/kg of diet and less than additive toxicity when chicks were fed 300 mg FB1 and 1 5 mg DON/kg of diet. Of importance to the poultry industry is the fact that toxic synergy was not observed for either of these toxin combina tions and the likelihood of encountering FBI at this concentration in finished feed is small. However, under field conditions with additiona l stress factors, the toxicity of these mycotoxins could be altered to adversely affect the health and performance of poultry.