title: Toxic effects of kojic acid in the diet of male broilers.
abstract: The toxicological effects induced by the administration of kojic acid were characterized in young male broiler chickens (Hubbard x Peterson). The experimental design consisted of six dietary treatments of kojic acid (0, .5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g/kg feed) and four replicates of 10 broilers per replicate. Kojic acid significantly (P less than .05) decreased growth rates at concentrations greater than 2 g basic acid/kg feed. Kojic acid in higher concentrations also significantly increased the relative weights of the proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, and liver, and significantly decreased the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius at necropsy (Day 21). Hematological changes included a significant increase in the number of red blood cells, a significant increase in packed-cell volume, and a significant decrease in mean corpuscular volume. Also occurring was a significant increase in the serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Hepatotoxicity of dietary kojic acid was evident through a significant increase in the activities of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and creatine kinase and a significant decrease in the activity of alkaline phosphatase. A significant increase in serum uric acid concentration was indicative of nephrotoxicity, and a significant increase in serum glucose concentration was indicative of pancreatic toxicity. A significant decrease in colonic temperature was also observed. Because the toxic effects of kojic acid were only observed at concentrations greater than 2 g kojic acid/kg feed, this mycotoxin alone does not appear to pose a serious economic threat to the poultry industry.
authors.affiliation: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Veterinary Toxicology and Entomology Research Laboratory, College Station, Texas 77840.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Giroir
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kubena
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Elissalde
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Witzel
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Yersin
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ivie
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects; D011531:Proventriculus / Q000187:drug effects; D011753:Pyrones / Q000633:toxicity*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004798:Enzymes; D009183:Mycotoxins; D011753:Pyrones; C011890:kojic acid