Effect of dietary aflatoxin on hemostasis of young turkey poults

Young turkey poults fed graded levels of aflatoxin (0, 125, 250, and 500 microgram/kg) from hatching for 3 weeks displayed altered hemostasis, manifested in prolonged prothrombin times at 2 and 3 weeks of age. Body weights were only affected in those groups receiving 500 microgram/kg. Total plasma protein, fibrinogen, and plasma calcium were reduced in response to dietary aflatoxin. In comparison with chickens, which exhibit similar hemostatic dysfunction concomitant with reduced body weight, turkeys receiving aflatoxin at lower levels exhibited an altered hemostatic response without exhibiting depressed body weights. Thus, the turkey hemostatic system is a better indicator of aflatoxicosis than is body weight gain.