Effects of Diatomaceous earth in amelioration of Aflatoxin induced patho-morphological changes in broilers

摘要

The ability of Diatomaceous earth (DAE) in reducing the detrimental effects of anatoxin (AF) in broiler diet was evaluated. DAE was supplemented @ 400 and 800 mg Kg"1 of feed along with 0.5 and 1 ppm of AF Kg"1 of feed. A total of 360 healthy day oldbroiler chicks were divided into 9 groups comprising of control and treatment groups. Feeding of AF caused increased relative weight of liver, kidneys, heart and pancreas compared to the control group. However, the relative weight of thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius decreased in the anatoxin fed birds. The prominent gross lesions were enlargement, yellowish discoloration, friable texture, varying degree of congestion in liver and kidneys. The lymphoid organs revealed reduction in size of the thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Histopathologically, liver revealed congestion, cellular swelling and fatty changes, degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, periportal and perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells and connective tissue proliferation. Kidneys revealed mild to moderate degree of congestion and haemorrhages, tubular epithelial degeneration and infiltration of mononuclear cells along with heterophils. Lymphocytolysis and depletion of lymphoid cells were seen in thymus, spleen, bursaof Fabricius and caecal tonsils. Intestines showed degeneration and necrosis of villus epithelium.The addition of Agripower DAE to aflatoxin containing feed revealed significant improvement in relative organ weight and decreased the severity of lesions in the visceral and lymphoid organs. The study concluded that DAE is effective adsorbent to decrease the adverse effects of aflatoxin in broiler chicken.