Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Marine Algae (Spirulina platensis) and Toxin Binder Powders in the Diets of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Aflatoxin-B1: Growth Performance, Humoral Immune Response and Cecal Microbiota

This research was performed to investigate the effects of milk thistle (MT), toxin binder (TB) and marine algae (Spirulina platensis; SP) on performance, blood indices, humoral immunity cecal microbiota broiler chickens exposed aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1). A total 300 one-day-old male chicks were equally divided into five treatments, with six replicates 10 birds per treatment. Dietary treatments included: (T1) a control diet (without any feed additive or AFB1); (T2) + 0.6 mg AFB1/kg; (T3) T2 g/kg MT; (T4) 1 TB; (T5) SP. BWG FI found be considerably reduced in broilers given AFB1-contaminated diets (p < 0.05). The FCR negatively influenced fed MT, TB, SP powders also deleterious AFB1 growth In comparison other had higher relative weight abdominal fat feeding resulted substantial rise AST ALT activity significantly decreased MT groups lowest skin thickness 0.05) twenty-four hours after injection. phytohemagglutinin injection results showed that TB more efficient than additives removing toxins from sources antibody titer against sheep red cells (SRBCs) lower group compared at 28 days age When comparing AFB1-fed treatment, there significant concentration Coliform bacteria. added diet, Coliforms diets, it can concluded are suitable for supporting immunological function, serum biochemical parameters chickens.