Individual and combined effects of feeding Fusarium moniliforme culture material, containing known levels of fumonisin B1, and aflatoxin B1 in the young turkey poult.

The individual and combined effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and aflatoxin B1 (AF) were evaluated using a 2 x 2 factorial with treatments of 0 and 75 mg FB1/kg feed and 0 and 200 micrograms AF/kg feed. Each of the four diets was fed to eight pen replicates of six poults from Day 1 to 21. Body weight gain was reduced (P < .05) by AF and the FB1-AF combination. Poults fed AF or the FB1-AF combination were less efficient (P < .05) in converting feed to gain. Fumonisin B1 increased (P < .05) liver weights whereas AF and the FB1-AF combination increased (P < .05) spleen weights. The AF and the FB1-AF combination decreased (P < .05) serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, and cholesterol. Fumonisin B1 and the FB1-AF combination increased (P < .05) serum sphinganine:sphingosine (SA:SO) ratios. Treatment-associated lesions were observed only in the liver. Hepatocellular hyperplasia and biliary hyperplasia were seen in poults fed 75 mg FB1/kg and 200 micrograms AF/kg, respectively. The combination of FB1 and AF caused an increased primary immune response to sheep red blood cells. However, the phytohemagglutinin delayed hypersensitivity response was not affected by dietary treatment. These data indicate that FB1 and AF, alone and in combination, can adversely affect poult performance and health at these dietary concentrations.