Evaluation of immunity of young broiler chickens during simultaneous aflatoxicosis and ochratoxicosis.
A 2 X 2 factorial experimental design consisting of the treatments 0 and 2.5 micrograms/g aflatoxin and 0 and 2.0 micrograms/g ochratoxin A with 12 replicates of 10 birds per treatment level was used to evaluate the effects of these mycotoxins on various aspects of immunity. Male chicks (Hubbard X Hubbard) were maintained on these treatments from one day of age to 3 weeks of age at which time six replicate pens per treatment were sacrificed and various parameters measured. The additional six replicate pens per treatment were maintained on toxin feed beyond 3 weeks of age, and at 4 weeks of age, three replicate pens were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Brucella abortus. Antibody titers were measured up to 10 days postimmunization. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A, individually, significantly (P less than .05) decreased body weight, and a synergistic toxicity was evident by a significant (P less than .05) decrease in body weight. Antibody titers and phagocytic activity of heterophils were not significantly (P less than .05) altered by any treatments. The relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and the number of follicles for a given area of the folds of the bursa of Fabricius were significantly (P less than .05) decreased only by the interaction treatment. Complement activity was significantly (P less than .05) decreased by aflatoxin and the combination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A and depressed, although not significantly (P less than .05), by ochratoxin A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D000096702:Aflatoxin Poisoning
D003165:Complement System Proteins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A