Combined effects of aflatoxin B1 and corticosterone treatment on selected performance indices in Japanese quail.

MAGNOLI A.P; MONGE M.P.,; NAZAR F.N.; MAGNOLI, C.E.,; CAVAGLIERI L.R; BAGNIS G.; DALCERO A.M; MARÍN R.

Mendoza

Congreso; Mycored- Argentina. Strategies to rteduce the impact of mycotoxins in Latin America in a global contex; 2011

Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto

 Animal feed may be contaminated with different mycotoxins, being aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) the most common and toxic. Aflatoxins have a variety of effects in bird, including decrease in productive parameters and liver damage. Considering that birds normally have to cope with different stressful situations at the same time, the present study aims: to evaluate the effects of feed contamination with AFB1 in combination with the administration of corticosterone (CORT) in drinking water (a model to induce physiological stress in birds) on selected performance indices. Materials and methods: 144 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used. Temperature and photoperiod were controlled and birds received water and food ad libitum. From 35 to 77 days of age, birds were fed dietary treatments (for 46d). The dietary treatments were as follows: Treatment 1: basal diet (B); treatment 2: B + AFB1 (100 ug/Kg); treatment 3: B + AFB1 (500 ug/Kg); treatment 4: B + CORT (5 mg/L); treatment 5: B + AFB1 (100 μg/Kg) + CORT (5 mg/L); treatment 6: B + AFB1 (500 μg/Kg) + CORT (5 mg/L). Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates of 4 birds. Aflatoxins were produced via fermentation of milled corn by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 3000. The parameters measured were: body weight, feed conversion, egg production, as well as macroscopic and microscopic alterations in the liver. The data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Post-hoc treatment group comparisons were conducted using the Fisher LSD test. P < 0.05 was considered indicative of significant differences. Quail fed with 100 μg/kg of AFB1 showed no changes in the variables measured. However, quail fed with 500 µg of AFB1/kg showed significant decreases in body weight and feed consumption compared to their control counterparts. CORT in combination with 500 µg AFB1/kg intensified the negative effects observed on body weight and feed consumption and also evidenced negative effects on feed conversion rate and egg production parameters suggesting that the adverse effects of contamination with AFB1 could be intensified in situations of chronic stress. Quail treated with 500 μg/kg of AFB1 showed hepatocytes with lesions of degree 1 and 2 and all the quail treated with 500 μg/kg of AFB1 in combination with CORT showed liver lesions of degree 2 (i.e. hepatocytes with fatty macro and microvacuoles and necrosis). This result is consistent with the previous suggestion that the effects of AFB1 contamination are increased when overlapped with a cronic stressful stimulation. In conclusion, avoiding the combination of stressors with contamination along the productive process could improve both: production and welfare.