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PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental infection of white-leghorn cockerels with Macrorhabdos ornithogaster (Megabacterium).

Macrorhabdos ornithogaster is a newly described anamorphic ascomycetous yeast that has been reported to cause a chronic, debilitating disease in many species of birds, including poultry. Study of this organism is complicated by the limited ability to grow M. ornithogaster in vitro. In this study, we showed that the chicken can be used to amplify this organism and as a model to study its pathogenicity. An infection rate of 100% was achieved in day-old chicks orally inoculated with 10(5) M. ornithogaster derived from the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). The organism was also determined to increase in number by greater than 10-fold 14 days after oral inoculation in these chicks. Chickens infected with M. ornithogaster demonstrated no sign of illness but had decreased feed conversion efficiency and consistent and characteristic histopathologic lesions in the proventriculus and isthmus of the stomach, suggesting that M. ornithogaster may represent a potential threat to the poultry industry.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outbreak of salmonellosis in a zoologic collection of lorikeets and lories (Trichoglossus, Lorius, and Eos spp.).

During August 2001, a syndrome characterized by acute lethargy and dyspnea was observed in a population of 45 lorikeets and lories in an open-air zoologic exhibit. The first death occurred on August 10, and within the next 12 days, nine more birds died (22% mortality rate). Hepatomegaly, reddening and congestion of the lungs, and injection of the serosal surface of the intestines were the common gross findings. Histologic changes, including fibrinonecrotic hepatitis and splenitis, bacterial emboli (liver, spleen, lung, kidney, proventriculus), pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage, and enteritis, were indicative of an acute, overwhelming bacterial septicemia. Salmonella typhimurium, with the same antibiogram, was isolated from four birds. Several birds had attacked and killed a snake on July 24, and Salmonella serogroup B (untypeable) was isolated from intestine and kidney samples of a garter snake caught in the open-air exhibit on August 28. Salmonella was also isolated from environmental samples of the exhibit but not from food preparation areas. After antimicrobial therapy, Salmonella spp. was not isolated from the surviving birds. The source of Salmonella in this outbreak remains unknown, but infection either directly or indirectly from snakes in the exhibit is possible. Contact between captive psittacine populations and reptiles should be avoided to prevent the risk of salmonellosis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of two mycotoxin binders to reduce toxicity of broiler diets containing ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin contaminated grain.

In order to assess ochratoxin A (OA) and T-2 toxin (T-2) binding ability of two commercial sorbents, both in vitro and in vivo trials with broilers were performed. Crude OA and T-2 extracts from contaminated grain were used to assess in vitro binding ability of two sorbents (Zeotek [Zk] and Mycofix [Mx]), by quantifying free mycotoxin through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. For in vivo trial, a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used for this experiment, being the factors: adsorbents (none, Zk, and Mx), OA (0 and 567 parts per billion [ppb]) and T-2 (0 and 927 ppb). OA and T-2 contaminated wheat and corn, respectively, were added to sorghum-soybean meal diets to meet 567 ppb of OA and 927 ppb of T-2. Mycotoxins were fed alone or combined in treatments. After 21 days, blood chemistry, gross, and histological evaluations were performed. Relative weights of liver, kidney, and bursa of Fabricius were obtained. Zk had the highest OA and T-2 in vitro binding ability (100% and 8.67%, respectively). Chickens fed OA with or without sorbents had a lower body weight and feed intake reduction. However, those birds fed T-2 were partly protected by a sorbent. Birds fed both toxins showed toxic additive effects, and no protection of any adsorbent was observed. A significant reduction in plasma proteins, albumin, and globulins was a characteristic observed in all birds fed diets with OA both with or without adsorbents. Uric acid level in blood was increased in all chickens fed OA-contaminated diets. Histological findings observed in birds fed OA-contaminated diets were necrosis of kidney tubular cells, swollen and necrotic hepatocytes, bile ducts hyperplasia, and increased diameter of proventriculus glands. In birds that received T-2 alone, only the liver, with the same kind of lesions, was affected. According to these results, it can be concluded that there is not a relation between in vitro and in vivo trials. OA toxic effects could not be counteracted by any sorbent. T-2 toxicity could be partially counteracted by an adsorbent used in this research.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2004

Tissue tropism and bursal transformation ability of subgroup J avian leukosis virus in White Leghorn chickens.

In Experiment 1, a monoclonal antibody against the envelope glycoprotein (gp85) of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) was used to study the distribution of ALV-J in various tissues of White Leghorn chickens inoculated as embryos with the strain ADOL-Hcl of ALV-J. At 2 and 6 wk of age, various tissues from infected and control uninfected chickens were tested for the presence of ALV-J gp85 by immunohistochemistry. In Experiment 2, using the methyl green-pyronine (MGP) stain, sections of bursa of Fabricius (BF) from chickens of line 15I5 x 7(1), inoculated with ALV-J or Rous-associated virus-1 (RAV-1), a subgroup A ALV, at hatch were examined for transformation of bursal follicles at 4 and 10 wk of age. In Experiment 1, specific staining indicative of the presence of ALV-J gp85 was noted at both 2 and 6 wk of age in the adrenal gland, bursa, gonads, heart, kidney, liver, bone marrow, nerve, pancreas, proventriculus, spleen, and thymus. In Experiment 2, by 10 wk of age, transformed bursal follicles were detected in MGP-stained sections of BF in only one of five (20%) chickens inoculated with ALV-J at hatch, compared with five of five (100%) chickens inoculated with RAV-1. The data demonstrate distribution of ALV-J gp85 in various tissues of White Leghorn chickens experimentally inoculated as embryos with the virus. The data also confirm our previous observation that ALV-J is capable of inducing transformation of bursal follicles, albeit the incidence is less frequent than that induced by subgroup A ALV.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Pathologic and immunohistochemical findings in goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) naturally infected with West Nile virus.

The carcasses of 25 great horned owls and 12 goshawks were investigated for West Nile virus (WNV) infection by immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on various organs, including brain, spinal cord, heart, kidney, eye, bone marrow, spleen, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and proventriculus, using a WNV-antigen-specific monoclonal antibody and by WNV-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), performed on fresh brain tissue only. WNV infection was diagnosed by IHC in all owls and all goshawks. WNV-specific RT-PCR amplified WNV-RNA in the brain of all goshawks but only 12 owls (48%). Cachexia was a common macroscopic finding associated with WNV infection in owls (76%). Myocarditis was occasionally macroscopically evident in goshawks (33%). Microscopically, inflammatory lesions, including lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic encephalitis, myocarditis, endophthalmitis, and pancreatitis were present in both species but were more common and more severe in goshawks than in owls. The most characteristic brain lesion in owls was the formation of glial nodules, in particular in the molecular layer of the cerebellum, while encephalitis affecting the periventricular parenchyma of the cerebral cortex was common in the goshawks. In owls, WNV-antigen-positive cells were present usually only in very small numbers per organ. Kidney (80%), heart (39%), and cerebellum (37%) were the organs that most commonly contained WNV antigen in owls. WNV antigen was frequently widely distributed in the organs of infected goshawks, with increased amounts of WNV antigen in the heart and the cerebrum. Spleen (75%), cerebellum (66%), heart (58%), cerebrum (58%), and eye (50%) were often WNV-antigen positive in goshawks. In contrast with the goshawks, WNV antigen was not present in cerebral and retinal neurons of owls. WNV infection appears to be capable of causing fatal disease in great horned owls and goshawks. However, the distribution and severity of histologic lesions, the antigen distribution in the various organs, and the amount of antigen varied among both species. Therefore, the diagnostician may choose organs for histology and immunohistochemistry as well as RT-PCR depending on the investigated species in order to avoid false-negative results.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Epidemiology, pathology, and immunohistochemistry of layer hens naturally affected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Japan.

Epidemiology, pathology, and immunohistochemistry were investigated in layer hens affected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, which occurred for the first time in 79 years in Japan. The farm, which had a total of 34,640 chickens, experienced up to 43.3% mortality before the chickens were depopulated. Clinically, the affected chickens exhibited mortality without apparent clinical signs. Histologically, hepatocytic necrosis; necrosis of ellipsoids and follicles with fibrin in the spleen; necrosis with glial nodules in the brain stem, cerebrum, and cerebellum; necrosis of acinar cells in the pancreas; and necrosis of lymphoid tissues in intestinal lamina propria were seen. Occasionally, mild bronchiolitis, degeneration of smooth muscle fibers in the cecum, and mild tubulonephrosis were noted. Immunohistochemically, influenza virus antigens were detected often in the liver and spleen, heart, intestine, gizzard, proventriculus, and oviduct. In addition, antigens were seen also in the brain, kidney, pancreas, and ovary, but seldom in the lung and trachea. Virus antigen was mainly detected in the capillary endothelium and parenchymal cells. This suggests that virus excretion from the respiratory tract was not as prevalent as that from the digestive tract in the present cases.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Biological and molecular characterization of chicken anemia virus isolates from Slovenia.

The presence of chicken anemia virus (CAV) in Slovenia was confirmed by inoculation of 1-day-old chickens without antibodies against CAV and isolation of the virus on the Marek's disease chicken cell-MSB1 line and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Experimental inoculation of 1-day-old chickens resulted in lower hematocrit values, atrophy of the thymus, and atrophy of bone marrow. CAV was confirmed by PCR in the thymus, bone marrow, bursa of Fabricius, liver, spleen, ileocecal tonsils, duodenum, and proventriculus. The nucleotide sequence of the whole viral protein (VP)1 gene was determined by direct sequencing. Alignment of VP1 nucleotide sequences of Slovenian CAV isolates (CAV-69/00, CAV-469/01, and CAV-130/03) showed 99.4% to 99.9% homology. The VP1 nucleotide sequence alignment of Slovenian isolates with 19 other CAV strains demonstrated 94.4% to 99.4% homology. Slovenian isolates shared highest homology with the BD-3 isolate from Bangladesh. Alignment of the deduced VP1 amino acids showed that the Slovenian isolates shared 100% homology and had an amino acid sequence most similar to the BD-3 strain from Bangladesh (99.6%) and were 99.1% similar to the G6 strain from Japan and the L-028 strain from the United States. The Slovenian isolates were least similar (96.6%) to the 82-2 strain from Japan. A phylogeneric analysis on the basis of the alignment of the VP1 amino acids showed that CAV isolates used in the study formed three groups that indicated the possible existence of genetic groups among CAV strains. The CAV isolates were grouped together independent of their geographic origin and pathogenicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Pharmacodynamics of flunixin and ketoprofen in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos).

Flunixin (FLX) and ketoprofen (KET) are potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to alleviate pain and decrease inflammation. These drugs block access of arachidonic acid to its binding site on the cyclooxygenase enzyme, thus preventing conversion to thromboxane A2 and subsequent degradation to thromboxane B2 (TBX). Consequently, plasma TBX may be used to estimate duration of NSAID action. Sixteen adult mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control (n = 4), FLX 5 mg/kg (n = 6), or KET 5 mg/kg (n = 6). Blood samples were taken 1 hr prior to and just before (0 hr) injection and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr after injection. Plasma samples were analyzed for corticosterone and TBX. The feces were tested for the presence of hemoglobin and the ducks were euthanized for complete necropsy at the end of the study. Samples of muscle, kidney, liver, proventriculus, and intestine were taken for histologic analysis. Thromboxane was suppressed significantly in all birds following administration of either FLX or KET for 4 hr and decreased for approximately 12 hr compared with baseline samples (-1 and 0 hr). In the control group, TBX gradually declined over time. None of the ducks showed evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, but the FLX group had muscle necrosis present at injection sites. FLX and KET likely exert pharmacological effects for at least 12 h. Although degree of TBX inhibition cannot be correlated absolutely with degree of analgesia or anti-inflammatory effects, it is possible that these effects are present during this time. This work suggests that FLX and KET can potentially be used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents in waterfowl. However, because of muscle necrosis at the injection site, we do not recommend parenteral use of FLX in ducks.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Tetrameres (Tetrameres) megaphasmidiata n. sp. (Nematoda: Tetrameridae), a parasite of the two-banded plover, Charadrius falklandicus, and white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, from Patagonia, Argentina.

Tetrameres (Tetrameres) megaphasmidiata n. sp. is described from the proventriculus of the two-banded plover, Charadrius falklandicus, and the white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, from Patagonia, Argentina. The new species shares with T. (T.) nouveli, T. (T.) paradisea, T. (T.) prozeskyi, T. paraaraliensis, T. (T.) cladorhynchi, and T. lobybicis the absence of the right spicule and the presence of 4 rows of somatic spines. Tetrameres (T.) megaphasmidiata n. sp. differs from the first 4 species mainly by its longer left spicule. The new species can be distinguished from T. (T.) cladorhynchi by the extension of the lateral alae, the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae, and the absence of polar filaments in the eggs. Tetrameres lobybicis differs from the new species by having shorter rows of dorsal spines and a different number and arrangement of the caudal papillae. This report is the first record of a species of Tetrameres in C. falklandicus and C. fuscicollis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

A redescription of Cryptosporidium galli Pavlasek, 1999 (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) from birds.

Cryptosporidium galli Pavlasek, 1999, described from the feces of birds, is redescribed with additional molecular and biological data. Oocysts are ellipsoidal, are passed fully sporulated, lack sporocysts, and measure 8.25 x 6.3 microm (range 8.0-8.5 x 6.2-6.4 microm) with a length-width ratio of 1.30 (n = 50). Oocysts are structurally similar to those of Cryptosporidium baileyi described from chickens, but in addition to being considerably larger than oocysts of C. baileyi, these oocysts infect the proventriculus in a variety of birds and not the respiratory tract. Oocysts were successfully transmitted from chickens to chickens, and morphologically similar oocysts also were observed in a variety of exotic and wild birds (Order Passeriformes, Phasianidae, Fringillidae, and Icteridae). Molecular and phylogenetic analyses at the 18S rRNA, HSP70, and actin gene loci demonstrate that this species is genetically distinct from all known species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium and, thus, was named C. galli.

Actins↗
PubMed2002

Ghrelin: a hypothalamic GH-releasing factor in domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).

Ghrelin, a recently discovered peptide in the mammalian hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract is thought to be the endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue (GHS) receptor and it stimulates GH release in rats and humans. The possibility that ghrelin is present in birds was therefore assessed, since a GHS receptor is present in the chicken pituitary gland. Although immunoreactive ghrelin is readily detectable in the rat stomach and ileum, ghrelin immunoreactivity could not be detected in the chicken proventriculus, stomach, ileum or colon, whereas somatostatin immunoreactivity, in contrast and as expected, was readily detectable in the chicken gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was, however, present in the chicken hypothalamus, although not in the arcuate (infundibular) nucleus, as in rats. Discrete parvocellular cells and neuronal fibers with ghrelin immunoreactivity were present in the anterior medial hypothalamus. This immunoreactivity was specific and completely abolished following the preabsorption of the antibody with an excess of human ghrelin. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was also present in clusters of large ovoid magnocellular cells in the nucleus magnocellularis preopticus pars medialis, nucleus magnocellularis preopticus supraopticus and in the chiasmaopticus. Immunoreactivity for ghrelin was restricted to the cytoplasm of the perikarya and their axonal sprouts. Immunoreactivity for ghrelin was not seen in any other hypothalamic nuclei. In a preliminary experiment, circulating GH concentrations in conscious immature chicks were promptly increased following bolus i.v. administration of human ghrelin. The increase in GH concentration (approximately three times that in the controls) was comparable with that induced by the same dose (10 microg/kg) of human GH-releasing hormone, although less than that (approximately sixfold) induced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone. These results demonstrate the presence of a ghrelin-like protein in the chicken hypothalamus and suggest that it participates in the regulation of GH secretion in birds.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Tissue distribution of a peptide transporter mRNA in sheep, dairy cows, pigs, and chickens.

A 446-bp cDNA fragment encoding a peptide transport protein was cloned from sheep omasum and used as a probe to study the distribution of the peptide transport protein mRNA in various tissues of sheep, dairy cows, pigs, and chickens. Because the predicted amino acid sequence of this fragment was 85.8, 90.5, and 90.5% identical to rabbit, human, and rat intestinal peptide transporter (PepT1), respectively, it is believed that this cloned fragment represents PepT1 from sheep. In sheep (n = 5) and lactating Holstein cows (n = 3), hybridization was observed with mRNA from the omasum, rumen, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The estimated size of mRNA was 2.8 kb. No hybridization was observed with mRNA from the abomasum, cecum, colon, liver, kidney, and semitendinosus and longissimus muscles of either species or the mammary gland of the dairy cows. In pigs (n = 6), the probe hybridized with mRNA from the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. There was no hybridization with mRNA from the stomach, large intestine, liver, kidney, and semitendinosus and longissimus muscles. Two bands, 3.5 and 2.9 kb, were observed with northern blot analysis, indicating two RNA transcripts that may result from alternative mRNA processing. In White Leghorns (n = 15) and broilers (n = 20), the strongest hybridization was found in the duodenum, but the jejunum and ileum showed faint bands. The size of mRNA in chickens was 1.9 kb. Other tissues, including the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, ceca, liver, kidney, and muscles showed no hybridization to the probe. In conclusion, mRNA for PepT1 is present in the small intestine of all animals examined and the omasal and ruminal epithelium of sheep and dairy cows. The size of the mRNA varied among species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Gastrointestinal development in the Drosophila embryo requires the activity of innexin gap junction channel proteins.

Cell to cell communication plays an essential role during pattern formation and morphogenesis of the diverse tissues and organs of the body. In invertebrates, such as the fruitfly Drosophila, the direct communication of closely apposed cells is mediated by gap junctions which are composed of oligomers of the innexin family of transmembrane channel proteins. Few data exist about the developmental role of the eight innexin genes which have been found in the Drosophila genome. We have investigated the role of the innexin 2 and ogre genes during gastrointestinal development of the fly embryo. Our findings suggest that innexins are involved in the formation of the proventriculus, an organ that develops at the foregut/midgut boundary by migration of primordial cells and subsequent infolding of epithelial tissue layers.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Rapeseed meal glucosinolates: metabolism and effect on performance in laying hens.

Two experiments were conducted with Hyline Leghorn hens to study the metabolism and detrimental effects of rapeseed meal (RSM) glucosinolates. Raw Target RSM was force fed to 12 hens which were killed after varying time intervals (15 min., 30 min., 60 min.) and the contents of areas of the digestive tract (crop; proventriculus and gizzard; duodenum and ileum) were analyzed for the presence of hydrolysis products of progoitrin. Nitrile compounds were found to be present in all areas of the digestive tract in much larger relative amounts than was oxazolidinethione. When commercially prepared RSMs of varying glucosinolate content were fed to laying hens at a 50% level of dietary inclusion, high glucosinolate-content RSM depressed egg production (P less than 0.05) more than low glucosinolate-content RSM but did not cause a greater frequency of liver hemorrhage. Histological examination of liver tissues from hens suffering liver hemorrhage revealed a severe reticulolysis.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1980

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of pentachlorophenol in broiler chickens.

Hubbard-Hubbard broiler chickens were fed graded levels (0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ppm) of pentachlorophenol (PCP) containing less than .0023% octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) for 8 weeks. Tissue samples for PCP, OCDD, and pentachloroanisole (PCA) were cleaned up via gel permeation chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography employing electron capture detection. Kidney weights were significantly increased by the 100 ppm and 1000 ppm PCP diet. Weights of all other organs including the body weights were significantly lowered by the 1000 ppm PCP diet. Except for the control group, histopathologic examination of the liver revealed bile duct proliferation and some fatty changes in all of the 6-week-old birds. Examination of the brain, liver, gizzard, pancreas, intestine, proventriculus, spleen, kidney, lung, and heart revealed no histopathological lesions in the treated or control birds. Significant linear relationships were found between PCP accumulation in tissues and the concentration of dietary PCP. Accumulation of PCP was greatest in the kidney followed by liver, heart, leg, breast, gizzard, and fat. The high residue levels in the kidney and liver may reflect principal routes of elimination and metabolism. Following a 5 week withdrawal of PCP from the diet, PCP residues were still present in the adipose tissue of all treated birds. Residue levels in the kidney and liver were reduced at the first and third week of withdrawal, but a continuous decline was interrupted by a slight elevation in residue level at the fifth week of withdrawal from the chemical.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of penicillic acid for toxicity in broiler chickens.

Penicillic acid is a mycotoxin produced by various fungi. It may occur in high concentrations in corn and can also be produced concomitantly with other mycotoxins in poultry feed. This mycotoxin was evaluated for its toxicity in broiler chickens by feeding graded concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 400 microgram/g of diet) to 4 groups of 10 birds per treatment. No significant (P greater than .05) effects were measured on growth rate, feed conversion, relative size of pancreas, spleen, liver, heart, bursa, or kidney or on hemoglobin, packed cell volume, liver lipid, plasma protein, or glucose. The only significant effects were a slight reduction in the size of the proventriculus and gizzard at dose levels of 200 and 400 microgram/g. Neither the salt nor lactone forms of penicillic acid had any detectable effect. The acute oral LD50 for the sodium salt form was 92 +/- 9 mg/kg. These data suggest that penicillic acid by itself has little toxicity (less than 1% of that of aflatoxin) in chickens.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Experimental ochratoxicosis in turkey poults.

Graded concentrations of ochratoxin A (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 micrograms/g of feed) incorporated into the diet of turkey poults from hatching until 3 weeks of age resulted in a decreased growth rate, enlarged proventriculus and gizzard, and a regressed thymus (all at 4 and 8 micrograms/g) and the sizes of liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bursa of Fabricius were unaffected. Feed conversion ratio increased from 1.63 (control value) to 2.07 (8 micrograms/g). Mortality was increased significantly (P less than .05) at 8 micrograms/g. Water consumption and plasma uric acid were increased at 4 and 8 micrograms/g. Plasma glucose and the dry weight of the kidneys decreased significantly at 8 micrograms/g while total plasma proteins, prothrombin time, plasma carotenoids, and phenol red clearance rate were unaltered. A leucocytopenia, which was primarily a lymphocytopenia, was observed at 4 and 8 micrograms/g. Heterophils decreased while basophils increased at 8 micrograms/g. The oral LD50 for day-old and 3-week-old poults was 4.63 +/- .31 and 7.84 +/- .94 mg/kg, respectively. Intraperitoneally, the value for day-old birds was .16 +/- .03 +/- mg/kg and for 3-week-old birds was .34 +/- .09 mg/kg. These data suggest that ochratoxin is a potent nephrotoxin in turkeys, but that ochratoxicosis in turkeys differs markedly from the disease in other species.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1981

Synergism between aflatoxin and ochratoxin A in broiler chickens.

A 2 X 2 factorial experimental design consisting of four treatments (0, 2.5 microgram/g aflatoxin, 2.0 microgram/g ochratoxin A, and 2.5 microgram/g aflatoxin + 2.0 microgram/g ochratoxin A) with six replicates of 10 birds each was used to evaluate the synergism between aflatoxin and ochratoxin A. The chicks (Hubbard X Hubbard) were maintained on these dietary treatments from hatching until they reached 3 weeks of age, when the experiment was terminated. The size of the liver, spleen, pancreas, and proventriculus was significantly (P less than .05) altered by the individual toxins; however, a synergistic effect on the size of these organs was not observed. The kidney and gizzard were sensitive to the coincident exposure to these mycotoxins and were significantly (P less than .05) enlarged. The kidney was the most sensitive organ to the combined toxicity of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A, and nephropathy was the most important characteristic of this interaction. The synergism between aflatoxin and ochratoxin A significantly (P less than .05) decreased growth rate and numerically increased mortality, demonstrating the enhanced toxicity of cocontaminated feed. Liver lipid levels were significantly (P less than .05) increased by aflatoxin and decreased by ochratoxin A. The interaction of both mycotoxins on this parameter was significant (P less than .05) and the combined effect demonstrates that ochratoxin A inhibited lipid accumulation normally induced by aflatoxin. The data show that toxicity-enhancing synergisms exist between mycotoxins and that symptom patterns are altered during multiple mycotoxicoses. The data also demonstrate that nephropathy is the primary effect of this interaction and, thus, is of diagnostic importance.

Aflatoxins↗