Toxic synergism between aflatoxin and T-2 toxin in broiler chickens.

The individual and combined effects of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin were studied in male broiler chicks (Hubbard X Hubbard). The experimental design was a 2 X 2 factorial design with dietary treatments of 0 and 2.5 micrograms/g aflatoxin and 0 and 4.0 micrograms/g T-2 toxin. The broilers were obtained at 1 day of age and housed in electrically heated batteries with feed and water available ad libitum until they reached 3 wk of age. Aflatoxicosis in this study was characterized by a significant (P less than .05) reduction in body weight, changes in red blood cell counts and serum levels of protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, and calcium, and magnesium, activity of the serum enzymes lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase, and a significant (P less than .05) increase in relative weights of the liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, proventriculus, and heart. Dietary T-2 toxin alone caused oral lesions, a significant (P less than .05) decrease in serum protein, albumin, potassium, and magnesium levels, and a significant (P less than .05) decrease in the activity of the serum enzymes lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. In the combination treatment of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin, significant (P less than .05) interactive effects were seen through a decrease in body weights, increase in the relative weights of the kidney, gizzard, and heart, and decrease in mean corpuscular volume and serum levels of potassium. These data indicate that aflatoxin and T-2 toxin can interact to produce synergistic toxicity. This synergism is a threat to poultry production due to the prevalence of these mycotoxins and severity of the interactive toxicity of these mycotoxins.