Some Toxicological Studies on Ochratoxin in Chickens

Mycotoxins are extremely toxic chemicals are produced by certain species of fungi and occur as natural contamination of animal feeds.One hundred and twenty, one day–old Cobb broiler baby chicks were devided into four equal groups intoxicated by ochratoxin (OA) in ration (A-30, B-60, C-90 ppb and group E as a control) were reared in separate and treated as recommended program and kept uAll groups were vaccinated against the viral diseases (ND, IBD & AF). Clinical signs and pattern of mortality birds were recorded and body weight will checked for all groups at age 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 days old.All groups were sacrificed at 42 days old and blood samples were collected from all groups for harvesting the blood serum for analysis liver enzymatic activity (AST & ALT) in addition to serum creatinine and uric acid. Also determined (HI) titer as indicaThe clinical signs of birds in all intoxicated groups with ochratoxin were dullness, ruffling of feathers, watery diarrhea, decrease food intake and reduction of body weight with pale shank and beack (loss of pigmentation). Some cases showed unsteady gait