title: Ergot Alkaloids in Fattening Chickens (Broilers): Toxic Effects and Carry over Depending on Dietary Fat Proportion and Supplementation with Non-Starch-Polysaccharide (NSP) Hydrolyzing Enzymes.
abstract: Ergot alkaloids (EA) are mycotoxins produced byClaviceps purpurea. EA-toxicity is poorly characterized for fattening chickens. Therefore, a dose-response study was performed to identify the lowest, and no observed adverse effect levels (LOAEL and NOAEL, respectively) based on several endpoints. Non-starch-polysaccharide (NSP) cleaving enzyme addition and dietary fat content were additionally considered as factors potentially influencing EA-toxicity. Feed intake was proven to respond most sensitively to the EA presence in the diets. This sensitivity appeared to be time-dependent. While LOAEL corresponded to a total dietary EA content of 5.7 mg/kg until Day 14 of age, it decreased to 2.03 mg/kg when birds were exposed for a period of 35 days. Consequently, NOAEL corresponded to an EA content of 2.49 mg/kg diet until Day 14 of age, while 1.94 mg/kg diet applied until Day 35 of age. Liver lesions indicating enzyme activities in serum were increased after 14 days of exposure. Dietary fat content and NSP-enzyme supplementation modified EA toxicity in an interactive manner. The EA residues in serum, bile, liver and breast meat were <5 ng/g suggesting a negligible carry over of intact EA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany. sven.daenicke@fli.de.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dänicke
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002967:Claviceps; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004798:Enzymes; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D011134:Polysaccharides
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004798:Enzymes; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: carry over; dietary fat; ergot; fattening chicken; feed enzyme; non-starch-polysaccharide