Broiler aflatoxicosis with recovery after replacement of the contaminated diet

Broiler chickens were fed a diet containing 2057 and 1323 micrograms/kg feed of aflatoxins B1 and B2, respectively, for 35 d. Effects of aflatoxins on growth, food consumption, efficiency of food utilisation and manifestations of aflatoxicosis were compared with control birds at the end of the feeding trial and at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 d after replacing the contaminated feed. No difference in food consumption was observed between the controls and the aflatoxin-fed chickens, but efficiency of food utilisation was decreased from 2.2 for the controls to 2.4 g food/g gain for the group fed aflatoxins. Aflatoxins caused depressed growth and enlargement of the kidney, liver, heart and gall bladder. Haemorrhagic spots were present on the surface of the muscles and some of the livers. Most livers from aflatoxin-fed birds were pale and infiltrated with lipid. After withdrawal of the food containing aflatoxins, all apparent gross lesions of aflatoxicosis disappeared, with no evidence of any lesions 8 d after removal of the contaminated diet.