Effect of ochratoxin A on Salmonella typhimurium-challenged layer chickens.

Eleven-day-old chickens received 10(8) colony-forming units Salmonella typhimurium orally for 2 consecutive days. The next day, the 13-day-old chickens were given a high dose of ochratoxin A (3 mg/kg) orally. The number of S. typhimurium in both the duodenal and cecal contents of chickens administered with high doses of ochratoxin A increased significantly when compared with control birds. Ochratoxin A was shown to be one of numerous factors that affect the susceptibility of chickens to salmonellae colonization.