Investigations on kidney function in mulard ducklings with experimental aflatoxicosis.

The toxic effect of AFB in mulard ducks was evaluated through the changes in several blood parameters, namely uric acid, urea, creatinine, creatine 1 kinase, calcium, inorganic phosphate, sodium and potassium. Also, the morphological changes in kidney parenchyma were evaluated. Experiments were conducted with 4 groups of 20 10-day-old mulard ducks: group I - control, fed a standard compound feed according to the species and the age; group II - experimental, whose feed was supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg AFB , group III - experimental, supplemented with 0.8 mg/kg AFB and group IV - experimental, 1 1 st supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg AFB and 2 g/kg Mycotox NG. The duration of the experiment was 42 days. The blood analysis results by the 21 day of the trial 1 showed reduced concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, inorganic phosphate, sodium and potassium, and higher creatine kinase activity in nd groups II and III. These changes tended to become more pronounced by the 42 day from the beginning of the experiment. Morphological alterations of kidney parenchyma consisted in degeneration in renal tubules, congestion, desquamation and disintegration of tubular cells with pyknotic changes in cell nuclei, necrobiotic changes and haemorrhages depending on the amount of ingested toxin. The dietary supplementation of group IV with Mycotox NG decreased the severity of observed blood changes as well as the frequency and severity of histological lesions (hyperaemia and mild granular dystrophy with pyknotic nuclei).