ASSESSMENT OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN CHICKENS SUFFERING FROM HEPATIC AND RENAL DISORDERS FOLLOWING MYCOTOXICOSIS

Abstract

Successful poultry breeding requrres good quality rations. Improper storage of poultry rations results in propagation of many microbial pathogens especially fungi. The propagation of fungi is associated with production of many metabolites. Such metabolites are known as mycotoxins. Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins isolated from Aspergillus jlavus whereas ochratoxins are isolated from Aspergillus ochraceus. Aflatoxins are mainly hepatotoxic while ochratoxins are nephrotoxic. The objective of the study was to throw light on the effect of diets containing mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxins) on liver and kidney functions as well as serum lipid profiles. Aflatoxins were produced by groW111g A. jlavus standard toxigenic strain on sterile polished rice whereas ochratoxins in wheat produced by growing standard toxigenic strain of A. ochraceus on sterile polished rice. 120 Hubbard broilers at one day old were used in our study. They were divided into four groups as follows: • Group 1 was kept as a control. • Group 2 was given aflatoxin in feed (1 ppm) for 3 weeks.