INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM ON AFLATOXIN-B1 OR CROTALARIA TOXICITY IN TURKEY POULTS

Abstract

The toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 and monocrotaline, the active principle of Crotalaria spectabilis, and the additive effect between aflatoxin B1 and monocrotaline were compared in turkey poults. The influence of Se feeding at dosage levels of 0.1, 5 or 10 .mu.g/g of feed in terms of protection against the toxic effect of aflatoxin and/or monocrotaline was assessed. Whether the toxicants would result in detectable residues in poult tissues was also studied. Healthy 1 day old male turkey poults (180) were assigned at random to 12 treatment groups (15 birds/group). Body and liver wt losses, low serum concentrations in total protein (TP), albumin (A), .alpha.-globulin (.alpha.G) and .beta.-globulin (.beta.G) and high values in .gamma.-globulin (.gamma.G) were produced in the groups fed crotalaria. Pathologic changes were induced by monocrotaline with no protection afforded by the added Se. Low values in TP, A, .alpha.G and .beta.G and in body and liver wt were observed in groups given the combination of aflatoxin plus crotalaria. Gross lesions were associated with an additive toxic effect and a lack of protective effect of Se against this combination. Higher values in TP, A, .alpha.G and .beta.G, and liver wts in groups fed aflatoxin B1 plus Se indicated that Se had a protective effect against aflatoxin toxicity. Residues of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 were found in the kidneys of poults fed aflatoxin B1; dehydroretronecine (the metabolite of monocrotaline) was detected in livers of poults fed C. spectabilis seeds.