Ameliorative Effects of Cholestyramine and Oxihumate on Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely available mycotoxin that is secreted by certain types of Aspergilli. In this research the ameliorative efficacy of two mycotoxin binders in broilers was evaluated; cholestyramine which was used for the first time in the poultry and oxihumate. A total of 64 one-day-old chicks were divided into four equal groups: birds of group A, B & C were fed on AFB1 contaminated diet at a rate of 2 ppm for 36 days either alone, with cholestyramine at a dose rate of 340µg/kg ration or with oxihumate at a dose rate of 3.5g/kg ration. Group D was kept as control with basal diet of neither toxin nor drug treatment. Morality was highest and the lesions of AFB1 intoxication were pronounced among birds of group A with marked degenerative and necrotic changes in different examined organs. Variable degrees of ameliorative effects of AFB-induced toxic lesions were observed in both treated groups (group B & C) with beneficial effects for cholestyramine. Mild expression of the apoptosis-related marker (p53) was encountered in group B and C relative to AFB1 intoxicated group. Aflatoxin residues were significantly reduced in the bird liver and kidney tissues in the instance of the two antimycotoxin binders. It could be concluded that both cholestyramine and oxihumate have an ameliorative effect for controlling aflatoxicosis with the superiority of cholestyramine in its protective effect. This the first in vivo trail to use cholestyramine as anti-AFB1 agent in poultry