Retention and distribution of aflatoxin in tissues of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated poultry rations amended with soil.

The effects of silty clay loam on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) retention and distribution were investigated when added to diets of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated rations. One hundred 14-d-old White Leghorn chicks were fed a control ration (clean corn), a low aflatoxin-contaminated ration (120 ng AFB1/g), a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB1/g), or a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB1/g) + 10% or 25% soil. Livers, crops and breast muscles in each group were pooled and analyzed for AFB1 and metabolites. The addition of soil significantly reduced the AFB1 levels in the livers, although the reduction was less when 10% soil was fed compared with the 25% soil feeding. AFB1 concentrations in the crops of chicks fed high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil was statistically indistinguishable from the chicks in the other groups. AFB1 concentrations were significantly reduced in the breast muscles of chicks fed 10% or 25% soil compared to chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Aflatoxin B2 was detected only in livers, crops and breast muscles from chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was detected only in livers and crops of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil and only in breast muscles of chicks fed the low aflatoxin-contaminated ration and high aflatoxin-contaminated ration + 25% soil. AFM1 concentration was significantly higher in the crops of chicks fed high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil.