Toxicity resulting from feeding experimentally molded corn to broiler chicks

A Limited Survey of Aflatoxins in Poultry Feed and Feed Ingredients in Guyana

A study was conducted to determine the presence of aflatoxins in finished poultry feed from manufacturing companies, feed ingredients, and poultry feed at the point of sale. Two collections were made. In the first collection, samples of the finished feed and feed ingredients were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For the second collection, all samples were analyzed by ELISA while a subset was analyzed by HPLC. Of the 27 samples of finished feed, five samples had aflatoxin concentrations greater than the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European Union Commission (EUC) maximum tolerable limit of 20 µg/kg, while for the feed ingredients, three of the 30 samples of feed ingredients exceeded the limit. Of the 93 samples of finished feed purchased from retailers, five samples had aflatoxin concentrations greater than the maximum tolerable limit. This survey indicates that most of the samples were below the maximum regulatory limit and maintained quality up to the point of sale for 2015 and 2016. However, given that some samples were above the limit, there is a need to monitor the production and marketing chain to ensure that the quality of the finished feed is not compromised.

Mycotoxins and skeletal problems in poultry

Bone problems are a major threat in meat-type and breeder poultry globally, raising both welfare and economic concerns. Leg weakness is multifactorial in origin and can be influenced by management, genetics, environment, nutrition and mycotoxins. Various mycotoxins, singly and severally, are known to exert an adverse effect on bone metabolism leading to leg weakness. Leg weakness in poultry as caused by mycotoxins and its alleviation is reviewed.

Efficacy of royal jelly against the oxidative stress of fumonisin in rats

Fumonisins (FB) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides, frequently associated with corn. It produces toxicity, including teratogenicity, equine leukoencephalomalacia, porcine pulmonary edema, hepatic or renal damage in most animal species and perturb sphingolipid metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of royal jelly (RJ) against FB toxicity. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six treatment groups including the control group; group fed FB-contaminated diet (200mg/kg diet) and the groups treated orally with RJ (100 or 150mg/kg body weight) with or without FB for 3 weeks. FB alone decreased body weight gain, feed intake, GPX and SOD. Whereas it increased in ALT, AST, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, createnine and uric acid levels. Animals received FB showed severe histological and histochemical changes in liver and kidney tissues. Cotreatment with FB plus RJ resulted in a significant improvement in all the tested parameters and the histological and histochemical pictures of the liver and kidney. These improvements were pronounced in animals fed FB-contaminated diet plus the high dose of RJ. It could be concluded that RJ have a protective effects against FB toxicity and this protection was dose dependent.

Counteracting Fusarium proliferatum toxicity in broiler chicks by supplementing drinking water with Poultry Aid Plus

To test whether Poultry Aid Plus (PAP, a commercial product for drinking water application) could reduce the stress on broiler chicks caused by Fusarium proliferatum contamination of feed, water (with or without PAP application, according to the manufacturer's instructions), and feed (experimentally infected with F. proliferatum fermented and dried corn culture material, CM) were provided to broiler chicks for 3 wk. Eight treatments consisting of a 2 (with or without PAP in water) x 4 (0, 1, 2, and 4% CM in feed) factorial design were tested in four replicate cages of six chicks each. The diet with 2% CM reduced weight gain by 23%; this reduction was preventable by PAP water application. The diet with 4% CM caused a cumulative mortality of 87.5%, which was reduced by PAP water application to 50%. The population half-life of the chicks on the diet with 4% CM was 6.5 d; this half-life was prolonged to at least 21 d by PAP water application. The PAP application also reduced the relative weight of the small intestine and promoted Lactobacillus colonization of the large intestine regardless of the level of CM in feed. Therefore, water application of PAP can be a prophylactic measure for F. proliferatum toxicity in poultry production.

The effect of fumonisin B1 on isolated chondrocytes and on bone formation

Toxic effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) were observed with cultured chondrocytes isolated from epiphyseal growth plates and with growing broiler chicks. Viability of chondrocytes was reduced after 48 h exposure to FB1, and half lethal concentration of FB1 was estimated to be greater than 250 microM. Increase in cell size was inhibited by as low as 25 microM FB1. Dietary inclusion of fumonisins (55 and 110 ppm) caused a reduction in body weight, increase in liver weight, and decrease in feed efficiency (P < .05). However, diarrhea and bone malformation were not observed. It is concluded that fumonisin by itself is not sufficient to cause skeletal problems in poultry.

Increased redness in turkey breast muscle induced by fusarial culture materials

Short-term feeding trials with experimentally moldy rice (10% of diet) or corn (12.5%) were carried out on turkey poults to screen for toxigenic Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, which were recovered from corn or commercial turkey feed. A major finding was that culture materials of some fusaria increased the redness of turkey breast muscle without causing obvious hemorrhages either in the musculature or in the internal organs. Corn culture but not rice culture of Fusarium moniliforme (M-1325) depressed body weight gains, feed utilization, and heart weights (P = .01). The increased redness (reddish discoloration) could lead to the depreciation of fresh turkey muscle product.

Pharmacokinetic fate and pathological effects of 14C-fumonisin B1 in laying hens

Presence of fumonisin B1 (FB1), a major metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme, in corn is of great concern to both human and animal health because of its wide range of toxicity. The pharmacokinetics of FB1 was studied in laying hens following oral and intravenous administration of 14C-labelled FB1. After iv dosing (2.0 mg = 23.68 kBq/kg bw) plasma radioactivity underwent a very rapid bi-exponential decline (t1/2 alpha = 2.5 +/- 0.3 min; t1/2 beta = 48.8 +/- 11.2 min) with negligible levels measured after 4-6 hr. Mean value for the apparent volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) was 18.27 ml/kg, apparent volume of central compartment (Vd beta) was 82.20 ml/kg and plasma clearance was 1.18 ml/min/kg. At 24 hr post-dosing only trace residues were present in liver, kidney, and cecum. When dosed by the oral route (2.0 mg = 47.36 kBq/kg bw), systemic absorption of fumonisin appeared to be poor (F = 0.71 +/- 0.5%) with peak plasma concentrations of only 40-145 dpm/ml (equivalent to 28-103 ng FB1 and/or metabolites per ml) between 1.5 and 2.5 hr. At 24 hr post-dosing only trace amounts were present in crop, liver, kidney, small intestine, and cecum. In both orally and iv dosed birds almost all (97.7 +/- 3.73%) of the radioactivity was recovered in excreta by the end of the 24 hr experiment period and no residues were found in eggs laid during the 24 hr post-dosing period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mortality in broiler chicks on feed amended with Fusarium proliferatum culture material or with purified fumonisin B1 and moniliformin

Two hundred twenty-eight male chicks (Columbia x New Hampshire) were given feed amended with autoclaved culture material (CM) of Fusarium proliferatum Containing fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2) and moniliformin in 3 separate feeding trials. Purified FB1 and moniliformin were given separately and in combination in a fourth feeding trial. Birds were given amended rations at day 1 (Trial 1 and 4), day 7 (Trial 2), and day 21 (Trial 3) and their respective ration was given for 28 days (Trial 1), 21 days (Trial 2), 7 days (Trial 3), and 14 days (Trial 4). FB1 concentrations were 546, 193, and 61 ppm; FB2 were 98, 38 and 14 ppm; and moniliformin were 367, 193, and 66 ppm in the first 3 feeding trial regimens. Chicks in Trial 4 were given dietary concentrations of purified FB1 at 274 and 125 ppm, and moniliformin at 154 and 27 ppm. FB1 and moniliformin, both alone and in combination, produced dose-responsive clinical signs, reduced weight gains and mortality in chicks. Age of birds given amended feeds had little difference in the clinical response; however, those given the rations from days 7 or 21 were slightly less susceptible than those given rations beginning at 1 day of age. Additive effects were noted when the toxins were given in combination. When toxins were given separately, adverse effects took longer to occur. A system to monitor pattern and rate of defecation (RD) was developed for assessing the chicks' approach to feed, water and heat source as illness progressed. Our results indicate that chicks fed corn heavily infected with F. proliferatum under field conditions could suffer acute death similar to that described for 'spiking mortality syndrome' during the first 3 weeks of age.

Fumonisin toxicity in turkey poults

The effects of dietary fumonisin B1 were evaluated in young turkey poults. The experimental design consisted of 3 treatments, with 24 female turkey poults allotted randomly per treatment. Day-old poults were fed diets containing 0 mg (feed control), 100 mg, and 200 mg fumonisin B1/kg feed for 21 days. Body weight gains and efficiency of feed conversion decreased linearly with increasing dietary fumonisin. Liver, kidney, and pancreas weights increased linearly with increasing dietary fumonisin, and spleen and heart weights decreased. Serum aspartate aminotransferase levels increased with increasing dietary fumonisin, and serum cholesterol; alkaline phosphatase, mean cell volume, and mean cell hemoglobin all decreased. Biliary hyperplasia, hypertrophy of Kupffer's cells, thymic cortical atrophy, and moderate widening of the proliferating and degenerating hypertrophied zones of tibial physes were present in poults fed diets containing fumonisin B1. Results indicate that fumonisin B1, from Fusarium moniliforme culture material, is toxic in young poults, and the poult appears to be more sensitive to fumonisin than the broiler chick.

Fumonisin toxicity in broiler chicks

The effects of dietary fumonisin B1 were evaluated in young broiler chicks. The experimental design consisted of 5 treatments each with 9 randomly allotted male broiler chicks. Day-old chicks were fed diets containing 0 (feed control), 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg fumonisin B1/kg feed for 21 days. Response variables measured were chick performance, organ weights, serum biochemistry, and histologic parameters. Body weights and average daily gain dramatically decreased with increasing dietary fumonisin B1, and liver, proventriculus, and gizzard weights increased. Diarrhea, thymic cortical atrophy, multifocal hepatic necrosis, biliary hyperplasia, and rickets were present in chicks fed diets containing fumonisin B1. Serum calcium, cholesterol, and aspartate aminotransferase levels all increased at higher fumonisin dietary levels. Results indicate that fumonisin, from Fusarium moniliforme culture material, is toxic in young chicks.

Immunosuppressive effects of Fusarium moniliforme corn cultures in chickens

In the present study, the toxic and immunosuppressive effects of three isolates of Fusarium moniliforme (MRC 826, MRC 1069, and RRC 408) in male White Leghorn chickens were investigated. Chickens were fed diets containing .5, 5.0, or 25% of F. moniliforme corn cultures for 6 wk. About 30% of the chickens fed RRC 408 had leg weakness. Relative weights of bursae of Fabricius were lower in birds fed all doses of MRC 826. Birds fed 5.0 or 25% MRC 1069 had lower relative spleen weights. Thymus weights were lower in birds fed .5 and 5.0% RRC 408, but not in those fed 25%. Immunosuppressive effects were determined by measuring serum levels of primary and secondary agglutinin responses to SRBC and Brucella abortus. Birds fed 5.0 or 25% MRC 826 were immunosuppressed, as shown by low antibody titers to B. abortus in both the primary and secondary responses. Isolate MRC 1069 caused a decrease in secondary response to SRBC at 25% and B. abortus at the 5.0 and 25% of culture material. The RRC 408 isolated reduced the secondary response to SRBC at all doses and response to B. abortus at 5.0 and 25% of culture material. These results appear to be the first report that feed contaminated with F. moniliforme can produce deficiencies in the immune system of chickens.

Decreased immune response and increased incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia caused by fusaria grown on sterile corn

Corn, feed, and litter samples reported to be associated with feed refusal, diarrhea, leg weakness, and mortality were evaluated for the presence of toxic substances. Intubated residues of ethyl acetate extracts of these samples did not cause gross lesions, diarrhea, or mortality in young New Hampshire x Single Comb White Leghorn crossbred chicks. Fusarium moniliforme was the predominant fungal species found in unpelleted feed and corn samples. Young broiler chicks, fed diets supplemented with 2 or 8% corn cultures of selected F. moniliforme isolates from a suspected toxic corn sample, failed to develop clinical signs of mycotoxicosis. However, some isolates resulted in decreased antibody responses to SRBC. Corn cultures of some Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium semitectum strains also decreased the immune response. Cultures of three F. equiseti strains from barley and potato induced tibial dyschondroplastic lesions in young broiler chicks. Other F. equiseti strains and strains of other Fusarium species did not cause this skeletal abnormality.

Moniliformin produced by cultures of Fusarium moniliforme Var. subglutinans isolated from swine feed

Feed samples from Iowa suspected of causing vomiting and enlarged vulva as well as mortalities of swine were examined for toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon and F. moniliforme Sheldon var. subglutinans Wollenew. & Reink. accounted for 43% and 18.5%, respectively, of the total count of 4.75 X 10(5) propagules filamentous fungi per gram of swine feed, but representatives of various Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were also found. Eight isolates of F. moniliforme var. subglutinans from the feed produced 51-540 micrograms of moniliformin per g on cracked corn at 25 degrees C for six weeks. Zearalenone was not detected in these corn fermentations. Eight isolates of F. moniliforme from the feed did not produce detectable amounts of either zearalenone or monoliformin on cracked corn. Moniliformin was not detected in the feed samples.

TDP-1, a toxic component causing tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler chickens, and trichothecenes from Fusarium roseum 'Graminearum'

Fusarium roseum 'Graminearum' was isolated from overwintered oats in Alaska and was tested for its ability to cause tibial dyschondroplasia (TDP) in broiler chickens. The water-soluble fraction was tested and found to cause TDP. In addition, diacetoxyscirpenol and 7-hydroxydiacetoxyscirpenol were identified in the acetonitrile fraction of the extracts and caused mild mouth lesions in chickens. Six major water-soluble components were purified by thin-layer chromatography and tested for toxicity to chick embryos. One of the six components, called TDP-1, was found to be lethal to chick embryos. There was a 100% incidence of TDP in chickens fed a diet containing 75 ppm (wt/wt) of pure TDP-1, thus establishing the cause and effect relationship between TDP and TDP-1. Analyses by thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that TDP-1 is polar and ninhydrin positive, exhibits fluorescence with UV irradiation, and is a nitrogen-containing component with an empirical formula of C15H20N2O4.

The nutritional value of moldy grains for broiler chicks

The effect was determined of mold development in corn and sorghum grains on their lipid content and nutritional value for broiler chicks. The grains, whole or ground, with their original moisture content (12.1 to 13.0%) or increased moisture content (15.0% moisture), were stored for 63 to 96 days prior to their incorporation into the diets fed to the chicks. Increasing the moisture content caused the development of the naturally occurring fungi (mainly Penicillium and Aspergillus spp.). The moldy grains did not contain aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, patulin, sterigmatocystin or zearalenone. Storage of whole or ground grains or of moistened whole corn did not result in differences in their fat content, in the metabolizable energy (ME) of the diets containing these grains, or in the performance of chicks fed these diets, but moistened whole sorghum affected performance adversely. Fat content in moistened ground grains decreased markedly during storage, but fatty acid ratios, vitamin E, carotene, xanthophyll, and protein levels were not markedly affected. These ground moldy grains reduced the dietary fat level during the 3 weeks of the feeding period in two out of three experiments and significantly (P less than .05) lowered ME values and depressed performance. Soybean oil supplementations to diets containing these grains increased dietary ME values and partially or completely restored performance. It is concluded, therefore, that the decreased energy level in diets containing ground moldy grains (not containing mycotoxins) is an important factor for their reduced nutritional value.

Fusarium-induced osteochondrosis (tibial dyschondroplasia) in chickens

Broiler chickens were started and maintained on rations containing 2%, 5%, and 10% grain contaminated with Fusarium roseum. There was mortality of 75% and 100%, respectively, in chicks fed 5% and 10% levels, and osteochondrosis was present in chicks which died at 12 to 17 days of age. Chicks on 2% or 3% F. roseum-contaminated grain survived the experimental period and osteochondrosis was well-developed in the proximal tibias of 85 or 99% of these chicks. The number of chondroclasts was reduced markedly in the affected bones. Defective chondroclasis may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis associated with F. roseum.

Toxicity of dietary and intravenously administered moniliformin to broiler chickens

Moniliformin (1-hydroxy-cyclobut-1-ene-3,4-dione), either purified (0, 8, and 16 mg/kg of diet) or from culture of Fusarium moniliforme strain NRRL 6322 on corn grits (8, 16, and 64 mg/kg of diet) was fed to growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age. Up to 16 mg moniliformin/kg of diet from either source was without effect on chick weight gain, feed consumption, and mortality. Chicks fed 64 mg moniliformin/kg of diet from culture had reduced weight gain and feed consumption. Total daily moniliformin consumption by these chicks was nearly twice the reported single oral 50% lethal dose. Three of 10 chicks fed 64 mg/kg of moniliformin in the diet died. No lesions were found upon necropsy. The LD50 of purified moniliformin upon intravenous injection of 7-week-old female broiler chickens was 1.38 +/- .035 mg/kg body weight. Average time to death was 65 minutes. Progressive symptoms noted included lack of muscular coordination, tachypnea from moderate to severe followed by slow labored respiration, coma, terminal agonal struggle, and death.

The effect of feeding corn molded with Penicillium lanosum to broiler chicks

Penicillium lanosum was isolated from broiler feed obtained from troughs in a house in which the litter was wet and the chicks were substantially smaller than expected at the time of slaughter. Corn was inoculated with the fungus, incubated for 8 weeks, dried, and incorporated in a broiler ration. The ration was fed to broiler chicks for a period of 2 weeks in order to evaluate toxicity. Experimental chicks developed diarrhea and grew slower than the controls. Gross lesions consisted of swollen kidneys and erosions in the lining of the gizzard. Histologic examination revealed mild toxic nephritis and growth of fungus in and on the surface of the gizzard lining. Penicillium lanosum was isolated from the gizzards of affected birds. Diarrhea but no gizzard lesions occurred in birds feld molded corn which had been treated with ethylene oxide. This finding indicates that this isolate of P. lanosum is both toxigenic and capable of producing gizzard erosion.

Moniliformin, a metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme NRRL 6322: purification and toxicity

Fusarium moniliforme NRRL 6322 produced about 600 mg of recoverable moniliformin, a mycotoxic metabolite, per kg of corn grit medium. The moniliformin was extracted from the grits with methanol, purified by preparative thin-layer chromatography, and crystallized from ether. The 50% lethal dose for chicken embryos was 2.8 microgram per egg. For 1-day-old chicks dosed with moniliformin by crop intubation and for female and male mice injected intraperitoneally, the 50% lethal doses were 5.4, 20.9, and 29.1 mg per kg of body weight, respectively. The toxin did not cause a reaction on mouse skin.

Effects of dietary citrinin and aflatoxin on leg problems of broilers growtn on wire floors

Dietary levels of citrinin of 62.5, 125 and 500 mug./g. diet or aflatoxin at a dietary level of 2.5 mug./g. of diet fed from 1-21 days of age did not inccrease the incidence of leg problems compared to control groups receiving no dietary nycotoxins. These data indicate that dietary contamination with these toxins does not account for the incidence of occasionally observed leg probelms in younger broiler chicks.