Aflatoxin B1 residues in eggs of laying hens fed a diet containing different levels of the mycotoxin.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the excretion of aflatoxin B1 residues in eggs of young laying hens fed aflatoxin B1-contaminated rations for 8 weeks. To this end, 96 twenty-week-old hens were randomly distributed into four experimental groups (24 birds per group) and given rations containing either 0 (controls), 100 micrograms, 300 micrograms or 500 micrograms aflatoxin B1/kg feed. Egg aflatoxin B1 residues were determined by thin layer chromatography; two samples per treatment per week were used for analysis. Egg production and average egg weights were not affected (p < 0.05) in the groups receiving aflatoxin B1-contaminated rations. Residues of aflatoxin B1 were detected only in the eggs of hens given 500 micrograms/kg feed, at levels that ranged from 0.05 to 0.16 microgram/kg (average: 0.10 microgram/kg). The results indicate that the feed to eggs aflatoxin B1 transmission ratio was approximately 5000:1, emphasizing the importance of controlling aflatoxin levels in rations for laying hens.
Departamento de Nutrição e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. carlosaf@pop.usp.bn
C A
CA
Oliveira
E
E
Kobashigawa
T A
TA
Reis
L
L
Mestieri
R
R
Albuquerque
B
B
Corrêa
D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination
D016604:Aflatoxin B1