Deoxynivalenol and Ochratoxin A inactivation in broiler chickens' feed

This work was designed to test the possibility of mycotoxin inactivation in broiler chicken feed contaminated with low doses of DON (1 mg/kg) and OTA (0.5 mg/kg) throughout a production cycle, evaluated in terms of growth parameters, histopathological lesions, haematological and immunological parameters. There were not recorded mortalities during the experimental period, there were observed a few cases of diarrhea and feed regurgitation. The continuous exposure to DON and OTA for six weeks was reflected into histological lesions alteration of the blood biochemical and immunological parameters. The mycotoxins produced characteristic microscopic lesions in kidney, liver and crop samples; they increased the blood uric acid concentration, modified haemoglobin and red blood cell levels, but did not alter haematocrit, white blood cell counts or leukocyte formula. Both humoral and cellular immunological parameters were modified: serum lysozyme, properdin and phagocytic activity. The inclusion of the mycotoxin inhibitor reduced the severity of histological lesions and had a significant effect on body weight, feed conversion ratio, serum lysozyme, properdin and phagocytic activity values, ensuring broilers' protection against detrimental mycotoxin effects and thus providing a reliable feed reconditioning alternative.