<div><strong>Background: </strong>Feed quality in terms of nutritional content is plays pivotal role in achieving desired production. Amongst the several factors which alter the quality of feed, inevitable fungal toxins that compromise the nutritive content quite often had taken attention posing serious health hazards on birds and humans as well. Moulds / Fungi are accomplished of reducing the nutritional value of feedstuffs as well as expanding some mycotoxins. Mycotoxin adulterated feed has adverse effects on poultry health and productivity. The present study aimed to study the effect of dietary supplementation of graded levels of dietary aflatoxin and ochratoxin combination on performance, immune response and blood biochemical traits of broiler chickens.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>A 42 days biological trial was conducted to study the effect of graded levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin (OTA) combination in the diet for production, immune response and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were divided into five (5) treatment groups (T1: control; T2: T1 + 100 ppb AFB1+ 100 ppb OTA; T3: T1 + 100 ppb AFB1+ 200 ppb OTA; T4:T1 + 250 ppb AFB1+ 100 ppb OTA; and T5: T1 + 250 ppb AFB1+ 200 ppb OTA) and each treatment was fed to 6 replicated groups of 8 birds each.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> Body weight gain (BWG) was significantly lower in T3, T4 and T5 group and feed intake (FI) in all the toxin supplemented groups was statistically similar but numerically higher compared to control group. Significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in 0-42 d at T1 and T2 group. The cell mediated immunity (CMI) and humoral immunity (haem-agglutination- HA titre) in higher doses of aflatoxin and ochratoxin combined fed group (T5) was lower (P&lt;0.05). The liver damage enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were increased (P&lt;0.05) in broilers fed on diet containing aflatoxin and ochratoxin combinations. Significant (P&lt;0.05) reduction in serum uric acid and cholesterol level at T3, T4 and T5 dietary treated groups. No significant (P&gt;0.05) changes observed in total protein and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration. &nbsp;Thus, it may be concluded that combination of Aflatoxin B1 (100 ppb) and ochratoxin A (100 ppb) in basal diet had no adverse effect on growth performance, immune response and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicken.</div>


<div>Performance, Immune Response and Blood Biochemical Traits of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Dietary Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin Combination</div>


<div>Mycotoxin poisoning is not restricted to pets and farm animals, it causes diseases and death in humans. Mycotoxin producing fungi are common components of the epiphytic and endophytic microflora in crops resulting in natural crop contamination in the field and during storage. The level of contamination is influenced by the genetics of the plant and fungi, management practices and prevailing climatic conditions. The Global movement of maize products necessitates global as well as country-specific surveys on mycotoxin occurrence. Significant differences in the concentrations of deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and zearalenone were found in commercial maize for the seven years under review but no significant difference was detected between white and yellow maize types with regards to fumonisins and zearalenone concentrations. The absence of Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin-A, T2-toxin and HT-2 toxin in the commercial maize samples from 2010/2011 to 2016/2017 seasons is a food safety advantage for South Africa maize producers.</div>


Performance, Immune Response and Blood Biochemical Traits of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Dietary Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin Combination

Mycotoxins in Maize and Implications on Food Security: A Review