Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Commercial Purified Phylosilicate to Reduce the Toxicity of T-2 Toxin in Broiler Chicks

The use of 2.5 kg/mt of a commercial HSCAS (Myco-Ad) have been previously demonstrated to effectively prevent the toxic effect of 1.25 ppm T-2 toxin (T-2) in broilers. An experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of a very low inclusion commercial purified phylosilicate (Myco-Ad A-Z) in preventing the deleterious effects of T-2 in broiler chicks. Thirty two 5-day-old Ross male broiler chicks individually caged were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments with 8 replications each. Birds were fed a basal sorghum-soybean meal mash diet containing or exceeding NRC recommended nutrients levels. The feed was experimentally contaminated with synthetic T-2 from Sigma Chemical Company, USA. Treatments were: (1) control diet; (2) control + 1.0 kg/mt Myco-Ad A-Z; (3) control + 1.25 ppm T-2; and (4) control + 1.25 ppm T-2 + 1.0 kg/mt Myco-Ad A-Z. Results at 38 days of age indicated that broilers fed 1.25 ppm T-2 contaminated diet presented significant lower body weight, poorer feed conversion, and severe macroscopic oral lesions than chicks fed the control diet. The addition of Myco-Ad A-Z to the contaminated diet resulted in statistically significant heavier (1772 v 1563 g) and more efficient (1.97 v 2.19) broilers, with statistically reduced gross oral lesions and substantial reduction in microscopic organs lesions (tongue, gizzard, thymus, and bursa) than those fed 1.25 ppm T-2. The addition of 1.0 kg/mt of Myco-Ad A-Z to chick diets did not show any statistical difference in performance and bone mineralization compared to the control diet, demonstrating its lack of interference with nutrients absorption. These results indicated that Myco-Ad A-Z at 1.0 kg/mt was effective in preventing the toxic effects of T-2 in broilers chicks.