Hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and serum protein electrophoretic pattern in laying hens exposed to ochratoxin a toxicity

Abstract EN

Contamination of food and feed supplies with mycotoxin could increases the economic and health risks to human and animals.

The direct effects of mycotoxins on humans and other animals may induce growth retardation, impaired immunity and reduced resistance to infection.

Acute toxicity following exposure to high levels of mycotoxin reduced milk and egg production and in some cases ends with death .Whereas prolonged exposure to small quantities of toxin results in chronic disease including tumor formation.

The present work was carried out to investigate the effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) pollution on the blood biochemical parameters and the organs (liver and kidney) of exposed hens.

Ninety six hens were used in this study.

These hens were suffered from decreased feed intake, stunted growth and increased mortality rate with no response to nonspecific therapeutic treatments.

Chemical analysis of the diet used for feeding such hens revealed the presence of 520-ppb OTA, negative aflatoxins, zearlenone, hydrolytic or oxidative rancidity.

Blood and tissue samples were collected from 60 clinically affected hens and from 36 apparently healthy hens.

Samples from concentrated ration used for feeding of healthy hens were also collected and analyzed.

The obtained data revealed that, there were a significant decrease (P < 0.05,0.01 and0.001) in serum total proteins, serum protein electrophoretogram,(albumin, globulins, a-1-globulin,y-1 and y-2-globulins and a significant increase in p2-globulin).A significant elevation in the serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ,cholinesterase (ChE) and a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were indicative of hepatotoxicity.

Nephrotoxicity was also evidenced through an observed increase in serum urea, cretonne and uric acid.

The histopathologically findings support the biochemical results.

Therefore OTA has the potential of causing severe economic losses in poultry industry.