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This study was conducted to observe the arsenic (As) toxicity lesions in birds and to know either Vit C ameliorates these toxic effects or not. One-day-old broilers chicks (n=72) procured from a local hatchery were randomly divided into four equal groups. First group was kept as control and second group was given As (50 mg/kg BW) via crop tubing. Third group received in addition to As, Vit C (250 mg/kg BW) whereas fourth group received only Vit C. Killing by neck dislocation of randomly selected six birds from each group was carried out on experimental days 0, 16 and 32 for collection of blood and tissues specimens. Arsenic treated birds showed clinical signs of toxicity throughout the experiment than all other groups. These clinical signs included decreased body weight and feed intake, dullness, open mouth breathing, increased thirst, ruffled feathers, pale comb, skin irritation and watery diarrhea which were not significant in any other group. As treated group showed a significant (P

The present study describes the multicentric lymphosarcoma associated with lymphoid interstitial pneumonia in indigenous breeds of sheep and goats in Pakistan. Serum samples from sheep (n=93) and goats (n=129) were screened for ovine lentivirus using agar gel immunodiffusion test. Overall, 7.52 and 3.87% seroprevalence was recorded in sheep and goat, respectively. During necropsy of sheep (n=3) and goats (n=4), gross lesions including dark color liver with multifocal whitish areas, unilaterally lungs consolidation with granular appearance of cut surface were observed. Mediastinal lymph nodes were swollen and arranged in chain like fashion. Histopathologically, liver parenchyma exhibited extensive proliferation of neoplastic cells of lymphocytic series. Metastatic cells in the form of follicular pattern in the lungs, spleen and mediastinal lymph nodes were also observed. Brain tissue exhibited degenerative changes in the neuron and perivascular cuffing. The PCR product size approximately 300 bp from lung tissue confirmed viral infection.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant and is toxic to animal species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxico-pathological effects of Cd and the effects of hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicates (HSCAS) on Cd-induced pathological alterations in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A total of 180 male C. japonica at 25 d of age were divided into nine equal groups, i.e. A–I. Group A was kept as control while groups B and C were administered with Cd @ 100 and 200 mg/kg feed. Groups D and E were fed HSCAS @ 5 and 10 g/kg feed. Groups F, G, H, and I were administered with HSCAS along with Cd in different combinations. The total duration of the experiment was 35 d (at experimental day 0, bird age was 21 d). Gross changes in Cd-fed groups included enlargement of the liver and atrophied testes. Histopathological picture of groups B (100 mg Cd/kg) and C (200 mg Cd/kg) showed fatty change, individual cell necrosis, and proliferation of bile ducts at hepatic triad. Testes showed testicular degeneration which included absence of spermatogenesis, pyknotic, and dark nuclei between the spermatids and absence of spermatids and spermatozoa. No parameter studied showed any adverse effect of HSCAS given to the quail @ 5 and 10 g/kg feed. Groups of quail-fed Cd and HSCS concurrently in different combinations did not show any adverse effect suggesting an amelioration of Cd-induced pathological changes in the birds. It was concluded that concurrent administration of HSCAS and Cd protected the quail from adverse effects of Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports that dietary addition of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g/kg activated charcoal (AC) in broiler feed contaminated with 0.15, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg ochratoxin A (OTA) showed a partial reduction in intensity of mycotoxins induced toxic effects; particularly against those induced at lower doses of toxin (0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg). The protection by AC was absent against 1.0 mg/kg OTA-mediated toxicities. Moreover, AC at 10 g/kg feed also imparted toxicological effects in broiler chicken. It can be concluded that AC possess limited adsorptive potential against OTA and increasing the dose of AC may be detrimental for animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A presence of mycotoxins in feed is one of the most alarming issues in the poultry feed industry. Ochratoxins, produced by several Aspergillus and Penicillium species, are important mycotoxin regarding the health status of poultry birds. Ochratoxins are further classified into to several subtypes (A, B, C, etc) depending on their chemical structures, but ochratoxin A (OTA) is considered the most important and toxic. Bentonite clay, belonging to phyllosilicates and formed from weathering of volcanic ashes, has adsorbent ability for several mycotoxins. The present study was designed to study the effects of bentonite clay upon OTA-induced immunosuppression in broiler chicks. For this, 480 day-old broiler chicks were procured from a local hatchery and then different combinations of OTA (0.15, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg) and bentonite clay (5, 10, and 20 g/kg) were incorporated into their feed. At 13, 30, and 42 days of age, parameters such as antibody responses to sheep red blood cells, in situ lymphoproliferative responses to mitogen (PHA-P), and in situ phagocytic activity (i.e., via carbon clearance) were determined respectively. The results indicated there was a significant reduction of total antibody and immunoglobulin titres, lymphoproliferative responses, and phagocytic potential in OTA-treated birds, suggesting clear immunosuppression by OTA in birds in a dose-dependent manner. These results were also significantly lower in all combination groups (OTA with bentonite clay), suggesting few to no effects of feeding bentonite clay upon OTA- induced alterations in different immune parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mycotoxins contamination in animal products and by‐products is a persistent threat to the food and feed industry. The present study was designed to evaluate the comparative inhibitory effects of Bentonite (BN), activated charcoal (AC) and a newly discovered yeast, Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TM), against feed‐to‐tissue transfer of mycotoxins. RESULTS: A dose dependent increase as determined by HPLC, in the residues of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was exhibited in the groups of birds fed AFB1 and OTA alone. The dietary addition of BN and AC to AFB1‐contaminated diets resulted in a 41–87% and 16–72% decrease in AFB1 residues in liver of the birds, respectively. However, this decrease was non‐significant with addition of TM as AFB1 binder. A partial to non‐significant protection was observed by dietary BN and AC, against OTA residues, while a significant decrease in OTA residues (38–84%) was noted in TM‐OTA co‐fed groups. CONCLUSION: The order of efficacy in terms of lowering AFB1 residues in the liver was BN > AC > TM, while against OTA it was TM > BN > AC. The findings of present study suggest that, based upon the nature of target mycotoxins, a mixture of multi‐mycotoxins binders/detoxifiers should be incorporated in the animal feeds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate any ameliorative effects of bentonite (BN) against immuno-pathological alterations induced by dietary aflatoxin B1(AFB1) or ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler chicks. In one experiment, AFB1(0.1, 0.2 or 0.6 mg/kg feed) was fed alone and par alley with bentonite clay (3.7 or 7.5 g/kg feed) to the broilers. In the second experiment, the broilers were given feed contaminated with OTA (0.15, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg feed) alone and in combination with bentonite clay (3.7, 7.5, or 15 g/kg feed). Experimental feedings were continued for 42 days. At various time points along the feeding schedule, immune system organ histologic status, as well as host humoral and cellular immune responses, were evaluated in all groups. The dietary addition of AFB1and OTA alone significantly reduced immune responses in the birds as assessed by histological changes in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus, antibody responses to SRBC,in-vivolympho-proliferative responses to Phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) and, phagocytic functionin situ. The dietary addition of BN significantly ameliorated the immunotoxicity of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg dietary AFB1, however with a level of 0.6 mg AFB1/kg only partial amelioration was seen. The co-treatment of birds exposed to OTA with BN at all levels only partially alleviated deleterious effects on histology and immune responses. Taken together, the results here suggested to us that dietary addition of BN could help ameliorate AFB1-mediated immunotoxicities but could not afford such protection against OTA-induced immune damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the fungi and their toxigenic potentials isolated from the wheat and wheat brans. A total of 67 samples of wheat and 17 samples of wheat bran were collected from Faisalabad district of Pakistan. Forty-five (67.16%) samples of wheat yielded fungi. Frequency distribution based on total samples,Aspergilluswas the highest (44.77%) genus followed byPenicillium, FusariumandAlternaria. Penicillium verucosum(30.64%) was the most frequently isolated species followed byA. nigeraggregates,A. flavus, A. parasiticus, P. chrysogenum, A. ochraceous, A. carbonariusandA. fumigatus.AmongAspergilli, A. nigeraggregates (46.67%) were most frequently isolated species. Out of 30Aspergilliisolates from wheat samples, 17 (56.66%) were found toxigenic. AFB1 produced by aflatoxigenicAspergillivaried from 1.44 to 836.3 ng/g, while ochratoxin A levels varied from 0.037 to 15 045 ng/g. AmongPenicilliumspecies,P. verrucosum(63.15%) were found ochratoxigenic and OTA levels were varied from 7.31 to 8400 ng/g. In wheat bran, 10 (58.82%) samples yielded fungi. Based upon total samples, frequency distribution ofAspergillus(35.28%) was the highest followed byPenicilliumandFusarium. Similar pattern was observed in relative density of isolates.A. nigeraggregates andP. verrucosumwere predominant species (23.07%) isolated from wheat bran. AmongAspergilli, A. nigeraggregates (50%) were the most frequently isolated species followed byA. flavus, A. fumigatusand A. ochraceous(16.67%) each. The OTA levels of fungi isolated from wheat bran varies from 0.292 to 2500 ng/g. Isolation of toxigenicA. nigeraggregates from wheat indicates that these species should be considered as possible contributors of OTA contamination in wheat and its by-products in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the protective effects ofl-carnitine (LC) against ochratoxin A (OTA) induced toxicopathological alterations in white Leghorn cockerels. Parameters studied included behavioral parameters, mortality, feed intake, body weight gain, relative organ weights and histopathological alterations. Results suggested that OTA induced suppression in behavioral parameters, feed intake, body weight gain, relative organ weights and histopathological alterations were progressively improved when LC was given with 1 mg/kg OTA; however, this protection subsided when 2 mg/kg OTA was given with it. The optimum level of LC required to produce such mitigation at higher OTA levels is yet to be determined; however, the level used in this study is quite sufficient enough to ameliorate toxicopathological alterations induced by OTA up to 1 mg/kg feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent carcinogen, poses a great threat to the lives of poultry, animals and humans. It causes nephrotoxicity, immunosuppression, mutagenicity and teratogenicity in birds. Bentonite clay, belonging to the subclass of aluminosilicates, has the ability to adsorb different molecules and can efficiently adsorb several mycotoxins too. The present study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of locally available bentonite clay against OTA induced toxicopathological and serum biochemical alterations in broilers. For this, day old broilers were divided into 16 equal groups and were given different combinations of OTA (0.15, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg feed) and bentonite clay (5, 10 and 20 g/kg feed). Results indicated that feeding OTA alone caused a reduction in body weight gain, poor FCR, increased gross lesions, altered relative organ weights and serum biochemical values and all these changes occurred in a dose dependent manner. Feeding bentonite clay along with OTA did not ameliorate the OTA induced alterations in body weight, FCR, gross lesions, relative organ weights and serum biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study pure Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was given to broiler birds at the rate of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800μg/kg feed for 28 days. Birds of experimental groups intoxicated with 50, 100 and 200µ/kg feed did not show any clinical and behavior alteration. Birds of experimental groups intoxicated with 400 and 800µg/kg showed depression, ruffled feathers and had decreased feed intake, increased water consumption with soft to watery feces. Birds fed 800µg/kg AFB1 for 28 days also exhibited nervous signs (torticollis). Mortality occurred in all treatment groups with the exception of those given 50 and 100µg/kg AFB1 for 28 days. Clinical signs and mortality percentages score increased with the increase in AFB1 levels. Dose related significantly decreased in relative organs weight were recorded in all groups with the exception of birds given 50 and 100µg/kg AFB1 for 28 days. Significantly increased scores of gross lesions were recorded with increasing dietary levels of AFB1. The present study concluded that, AFB1 at level of 50µg/kg feed did not show any behavioral, gross and pathological effect on broilers when fed continuously for 28 day. In other groups pathological changes were seen in dose related manner. Severe changes were seen in higher dose levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorative ability of locally available bentonite clay (BN) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) toxicity in broiler chicks. In the first experiment the broiler chicks were kept on feeds contaminated with AFB1 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg) alone and in combination with bentonite clay (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg). In the second experiment OTA (0.15, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) alone and concurrently with bentonite clay (3.7, 7.5 and 15 g/kg) was fed to the broiler chicks. The dietary addition of AFB1 and OTA alone exerted deleterious effects on the performance, sero-biochemical and oxidative status of the broiler chicks. A concurrent dietary incorporation of BN (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg) ameliorated the adverse effects of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg AFB1 on body weight, FCR, serum ALT and urea concentration. Serum creatinine, total protein and albumin concentrations were mostly significantly lower in combination groups suggesting a partial or no amelioration. Dietary incorporation of BN at all levels only partially alleviated the deleterious effects of 0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg dietary OTA on performance, serobiochemical and oxidative stress, but amelioration was absent when the concentration of OTA in the feed was 1 mg/kg. Results suggested that the dietary incorporation of BN (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg) ameliorated the adverse effects of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg of AFB1 on various parameters. However, BN at all levels did not alleviate the deleterious effects of OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]