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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315392
Title: Efficacy of in-feed supplementation of plant-derived antimicrobials in reducing aflatoxicosis in chickens

Author
item YIN, HSIN-BAI - University Of Connecticut
item CHEN, CHI-HUNG - University Of Connecticut
item UPADHYAYA, INDU - University Of Connecticut
item UPADHYAYA, ABHINAV - University Of Connecticut
item FANCHER, SAMANTHA - University Of Connecticut
item LI, J - University Of Connecticut
item NAIR, MEERA - University Of Connecticut
item MOOYOTTU, S - University Of Connecticut
item KHAN, M - University Of Connecticut
item DARRE, MICHAEL - University Of Connecticut
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas
item VENKITANARAYANAN, KUMAR - University Of Connecticut

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2015
Publication Date: 7/27/2015
Citation: Yin, H., Chen, C., Upadhyaya, I., Upadhyaya, A., Fancher, S., Li, J., Nair, M.S., Mooyottu, S.I., Khan, M.I., Darre, M.J., Donoghue, A.M., Donoghue, D.J., Venkitanarayanan, K. 2015. Efficacy of in-feed supplementation of plant-derived antimicrobials in reducing aflatoxicosis in chickens. [abstract]. Poult. Sci. 94:9 (E-Suppl. 1).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins (AF) are a group of secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which frequently contaminate a variety of chicken feed ingredients. Contamination of poultry feed with AF is a major concern to the poultry industry, since aflatoxicosis in chickens results in significant economic losses due to poor feed utilization, decreased body weight gain, and increased mortality. In addition, the consumption of AF-contaminated poultry products negatively affects public health due to their carcinogenic and hepatotoxic properties. This study investigated the efficacy of two generally regarded as safe, plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAs), namely carvacrol (CR) and trans- cinnamaldehyde (TC), in controlling aflatoxicosis in chickens. Day-old broiler chicks were fed with AF contaminated feed (~2.5ppm) with or without supplementation of 0.75% CR or TC for 5 weeks. In weeks 3 and 5, chicken performance, including body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate were measured. In addition, the relative weights of liver, kidney, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius were determined, and histological analysis of liver was performed. Results revealed that CR and TC supplementation in AF-contaminated feed ameliorated AF-induced adverse effects in chickens. Both CR and TC improved body weight gain of chickens in weeks 3 and 5 compared to chickens fed with AF alone (P<0.05). In addition, PDA supplementation significantly decreased relative liver weight in birds. Histological analysis revealed that the PDAs reduced AF-induced toxic effect in the liver of birds, where PDA-treated chickens had decreased hepatocellular degeneration, necrosis and inflammation in the liver as compared to chickens fed with AF feed alone. Results suggest that CR and TC could potentially be used as feed additives to control aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. Funded in part by the USDA-NIFA- OREI 2011-01955.