Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to study the protective role of polyherbal feed supplement (Toxiroak®) during induced mycotoxicosis in broilers. A total of 240 Vencobb one-day-old broilers were divided into eight equal groups. Group A served as control and was given plain feed. Groups B, D, F and H were given Toxiroak® at 0.75 g/kg of feed. Groups C, D, G and H were given dietary aflatoxin B1 at 0.2 ppm, and Groups E, F, G and H were given ochratoxin A at 0.2 ppm in feed to study the effect of Toxiroak® on individual aflatoxicosis,
ochratoxicosis and combined mycotoxicosis of broilers. Chicks were given their respective feeds from the 1st day to 6th week of age and were vaccinated at 7th and 28th days of age with a Lasota strain of Newcastle disease virus. There was a significant effect of mycotoxins, individually and in combination, on body mass of broilers. Toxiroak® protected the effect of individual mycotoxins on body mass. Feed conversion ration was highest in Group B birds, followed by Groups A, F, D, H, C, E and G. Significant restoration of haemoglobin and total
leukocyte count values in broilers due to feeding of Toxiroak® in co-mycotoxicated and aflatoxins-fed groups, respectively, was observed. There was no significant effect of mycotoxin treatment on packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count in broilers. Due to single and combined mycotoxicosis there was a reduction in serum total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride and a rise in creatinine and uric acid levels. Supplementation of diets with Toxiroak® reduced the changes induced due to mycotoxins. There was a significant increase in the percentage organ weight of liver, and a reduction in that of spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus of broilers fed mycotoxins. Protection of changes in the percentage of organ mass of these organs by supplementation of Toxiroak® was recorded only in respect of bursa of Fabricius. The observed impaired immune response and histopathological changes in liver, kidney, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus of broilers given mycotoxins was protected by Toxiroak® supplementation.Izveden je pokus radi istraživanja zaštitne uloge višebiljnog dodatka hrani (Toxiroak®) u tijeku izazvane mikotoksikoze u tovnih pilića. Ustanovljena je znatno veća masa jetara te smanjena slezena, Fabricijeva burza i timus u pilića koji su dobivali mikotoksine. Zaštitna uloga pripravka Toxiroak®, s obzirom na masu organa, ustanovljena je samo za Fabricijevu burzu. Oslabljeni imunološki odgovor te patohistološke promjene u tkivu jetara, bubrega, Fabricijeve burze i timusa u pilića koji su dobivali mikotoksine bile su poboljšane dodatkom Toxiroak®
