Effects of aflatoxin and carotenoids on growth performance and immune response in mule ducklings
Journal
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - C Pharmacology Toxicology and Endocrinology
Journal Volume
128
Journal Issue
1
Pages
19-26
Date Issued
2001
Author(s)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate if carotenoids could alleviate the adverse effects caused by aflatoxin with respect to growth performance and immune response. In two experiments, a total of 320 mule ducklings were assigned to 5 treatments, i.e. control, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) 200 ppb, AFB1 + β-carotene (BC) 200 ppm, AFB1 + BC 400 ppm, and AFB1 + astaxanthin (AS) 200 ppm. In experiment 1, the addition of β-carotene or astaxanthin in the diet containing AFB1 200 ppb resulted in a significant decrease in average daily gain as compared with the control. AFB1 200 ppb alone and the addition of BC or AS on top of AFB1 resulted in a significantly lower daily feed intake than for the control group. There were no significant differences in relative organ weights among treatment groups. Both treatments of BC 400 ppm and AS 200 ppm had significantly more macrophages harvested per duck than the control and AFB1 200 ppb treatments. However, there were no significant differences among treatments in percentages of phagocytotic macrophages and number of Candida albican phagocytized by phagocytotic macrophages. In experiment 2, blood biochemical parameters and antibody titers were evaluated. There were no significant differences among treatments in total bilirubin content and alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum or in antibody titers against fowl cholera. However, AFB1 treatment had the highest activities of AST and ALT in the serum. The addition of BC 400 ppm on top of AFB1 significantly reduced ALT activity as compared with the AFB1 200 ppb treatment. These results suggest that carotenoids could provide a slightly toxic alleviating effect on growth performance, enhance the chemotaxis ability of macrophages, and reduce ALT activity elevated by AFB1. ? 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.
SDGs
Other Subjects
aflatoxin; aflatoxin B1; alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; astaxanthin; beta carotene; bilirubin; carotenoid; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; antibody response; antibody titer; article; Candida albicans; chemotaxis; cholera; controlled study; dietary intake; duck; enzyme activity; growth rate; immune response; immune system; macrophage; nonhuman; organ weight; phagocytosis; priority journal; Aflatoxin B1; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animal Feed; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antibody Formation; Aspartate Aminotransferases; beta Carotene; Bilirubin; Biological Markers; Candida albicans; Cholera Toxin; Ducks; Energy Intake; Macrophages; Organ Size; Phagocytosis; Reference Values; Weight Gain; Xanthophylls
Type
journal article