Effect of Different Doses of Deoxynivalenol on Metabolism in Broiler Chickens

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different doses of deoxynivalenol on plasma indices of broiler chickens. Forty-two one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed 1 of 3 diets containing deoxynivalenol (DON) for 42 d. The diets included: (1) control (0.2 ppm of deoxynivalenol), (2) low level of deoxynivalenol (1 ppm of DON), and (3) high level of deoxynivalenol (3 ppm of DON). Then, all the birds were sacrificed and blood samples for biochemical analyses were collected. The mycotoxin doses in diets were verified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The administration of 1 ppm of DON altered total protein, triglycerides, free glycerol, and potassium levels. Dietary addition of 3 ppm of DON resulted in altered calcium, potassium, total protein, triglycerides, along with free glycerol levels, and aspartate aminotransferase activity. No biochemical parameter, however, responded to increased DON concentration in the diet. The feeding of DON-containing diets did not significantly alter plasma chloride, cholesterol, and albumin levels or aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. It was concluded that both levels of deoxynivalenol in the diets tested significantly affected protein and lipid metabolism in broiler chicks.