Effect of Aflatoxin in vivo Nutrient Digestibility and Kidney Integrity in Newzealand White Rabbits
##article.abstract##
Contamination of crops by mycotoxin, particularly those produced by Aspergillus fungi, occurs at any stage of food production. They infect crops from pre-harvest to storage under favourable temperature and humidity, in similar conditions prevailing at the tropical region. Contamination also occurs due to dumping of food products, introduction of contaminated commodities into food chain during chronic food shortage due to drought, war, political and economic instability. Aflatoxin affects animals of all species and cause harm to most organs, and has been declared as carcinogenic, particularly in the chronic form. The objective of the current study was to determine the digestibility and kidney damage when feed containing moderate level of the toxin are fed to rabbits. The study used four rabbits in each of the four treatment diets containing O, 100, 200 and 400 ppb of aflatoxin. Feed intake and faecal output were determined every week and a sample taken to the laboratory for nutrient level determination and the digestibility worked out. Two rabbits were humanely sacrificed at the end of the study, their kidneys removed and a smear prepared on slides. The slides were observed at a magnification of x 40 using an electronic microscope. Nutrient digestibilities were: 78.4, 75.3, 72.8 and 71.2; 70.9, 70.8, 69.4 and 66.6, 25.9, 21.2, 22.7 and 23.0 for dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre respectively. There was significantly low digestibility for treatment 4 for dry matter and organic matter but there were no treatment difference for crude protein acid detergent fibre and ash. Treatments with aflatoxin showed pathological effects on the kidneys.
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