Evaluation of the Effects of New Combined Adsorbent on Occurrence of Pathological Lesions in Aflatoxin B1-Challenged Broiler Chickens

This experiment was performed to investigate the protective eff ect of a new combined adsorbent (bentonite + yeast cell wall extract) previously tested in vitro, on the occurrence of pathological lesions in broilers fed a diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1 until 21 days of age. A total of 96 one-day old Ross 308 hybrid broiler chickens were divided into four groups: group I (control), group II (5 g/kg adsorbent), group III (5 g/kg adsorbent + 2 mg/kg aflatoxin B1), and group IV (2 mg/kg aflatoxin B1). Grossly, AFB1 and AFB1+adsorbent fed birds showed enlargement, friable texture of liver and enlargement and pallorness of kidneys. Spleen revealed size reduction. No gross-pathological changes were observed in control and group II. Histopathologically, lesions were observed in aflatoxicated groups. Liver revealed vacuolar cell degeneration, periportal and perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells. Kidneys revealed mild to moderate degree of haemorrhages, tubular epithelial necrosis and infiltration of mononuclear cells along with heterophils. In group IV, catarrhal enteritis characterized by desquamation of epithelial cells were found in the duodenum. A milder form of gross and histopathological lesions was seen in group III. In conclusion, the present study revealed that supplementation of a new combined toxin binder product in the concentration of 5 g/kg could not completely ameliorate afl atoxicity in broilers, although it met the stringent European regulation requirements for the minimum of 90% aflatoxin binding efficiency in in vitro study.