Evaluation of adsorbents to ameliorate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B₁ on blood biochemicals, immune response and histopathology of liver in broiler chickens

The efficacy of diatomaceous earth (DE), sodium bentonite (SB) and zeolite (Z), alone or in combinations, in ameliorating aflatoxicosis was investigated in broiler chickens. A total of 384 day-old broiler chicks were divided into 12 treatment groups (T₁-control; T₂-T₁ + 300 ppb AFB₁; T₃-T₂ + 0.5% DE; T₄-T₂ + 1% DE; T₅-T₂ + 0.5% SB; T₆-T₂ + 1% SB; T₇-T₂ + 0.5% DE +0.5% SB; T₈-T₂ + 0.5% Z; T₉-T₂ + 1% Z; T₁₀-T₂ + 0.5% Z + 0.5% DE; T₁₁-T₂ + 0.5% Z + 0.5% SB; T₁₂-T₂ +[Z+DE+SB (0.33% each)]. Each diet was fed to four replicated groups of 8 birds each from day-old to 42 days of age. The serum protein content in control group (T₁) was higher (P<0.05) than that of T₂. Inclusion of DE, SB or zeolite at the rate of 0.5 or 1% level to aflatoxin contaminated diet significantly increased the serum protein level. Among the adsorbent groups, T₅, T₆, T₇, T₉ and T₁₀ showed better results in increasing the serum protein content equal to control. Inclusion of aflatoxin in feed decreased (P<0.05) the CMI response to PHA-P compared to control. Supplementation of aflatoxin adsorbents significantly (P<0.05) improved the CMI response to PHA-P. Dietary aflatoxin decreased (P<0.05) the HA titre against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). Inclusion of DE, SB or zeolite in aflatoxin contaminated feed increased (P<0.05) the antibody titre level comparable to that of control. Administration of 300 ppb of aflatoxin (T₂) resulted in marked destruction of hepatic cords, dilatation and congestion of central veins, adenomatous necrotic foci on liver, mild to moderate deposition of fat in the hepatic parenchyma. DE, SB or Zeolite at 1% level; combination of SB and zeolite at 0.5% level; zeolite and DE at 0.5% level and combination of DE, SB and zeolite preserved the normal histopathology of liver. It was concluded that addition of 300 ppb aflatoxin B₁ resulted in decreased serum protein content; suppression of both cell mediated and humoral immunity; and histopathological liver changes. These adverse effects of aflatoxicosis were ameliorated by inclusion of 1% diatomaceous earth, sodium bentonite or zeolite either alone or in combination.