Characterization of the toxicity of the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T-2 toxin in game birds. II. Ringneck pheasant.
Ringneck pheasants were fed diets containing 1.25, 2.5, or 5 ppm aflatoxin; 1, 2, or 4 ppm ochratoxin A (OA); or 4, 8, or 16 ppm T-2 toxin. Severe toxin-induced mortality was seen during the first to third weeks with 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin (92.5% and 97.5%, respectively), compared with the mortality in control pheasants fed no toxin (0%). Slight mortality (less than or equal to 5%) was seen with OA and T-2 toxin. Body weights were significantly decreased by the lowest level (1.25 ppm) of aflatoxin by 2 weeks of age, by the two highest levels of aflatoxin by 1 week of age, and by 16 ppm T-2 toxin by 1 week of age. The feed-conversion ratio was increased by 2.50 and 5.00 ppm aflatoxin compared with the feed-conversion ratio in controls, although high mortality may have influenced the results. Aflatoxin had no effect on liver weight, but OA increased kidney weight in 3-week-old pheasants. Mouth lesions were seen in some of the pheasants fed T-2 toxin.
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Veterinary Toxicology and Entomology Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, College Station, Texas 77841.
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D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D001717:Birds; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009055:Mouth / Q000187:drug effects; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*
D000348:Aflatoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; D013605:T-2 Toxin