Infeluence of Bentonite and Ascorbic Acid on Minimizing the Toxicity of Aflatoxin B1 in Chicks Diets

Five experimental groups were used to evaluate the efficiency of sodium bentonite (BNT) and ascorbic acid (AA) in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 in ElSalam chicks (Egyptian local chicks) diets. A total number of 450 unsexed one-day old chicks were wing banded, weighted and randomly assigned to 5 groups of five replicates (18 chicks/replicate). The experimental groups were as follow: 1) basal diet (control);(2) control + aflatoxin B1(1 mg / kg diet); (3) control + aflatoxin B1 + 0.5% BNT;(4) conrol + aflatoxin B1 + 500 mg AA/kg diet and (5) control + aflatoxin + BNT + AA. Aflatoxin B1 contaminated diet significantly (P<0.05) decreased body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, survival rate, blood total protein, albumin, globulin. On the other hand, aflatoxin B1 increased the aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine and uric acid. Also, hazard effects on histology of chicks liver and kidneys were associated with aflatoxin B1. Addition of BNT, AA or BNT + AA to aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets significantly (P<0.05) improved all parameters which were negatively affected by the mechanism of aflatoxin. Most results indicated that addition of BNT + AA were more efficient than BNT or AA alone in minimizing the negative effects of aflatoxin on chicks.