Effect of aflatoxin B1 on digestibility and blood parameters in horses

• Main Authors: Auro Braga, Fernando Queiroz de Almeida, Vinicius Pimentel Silva, Kelly Moura Keller, Marina Prado Maciel, Maria Izabel Vieira de Almeida, Carlos Alberto da Rocha Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Goiás 2021-01-01
• Series: Ciência Animal Brasileira
• Online Access: https://www.revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/63385

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of mycotoxins on the digestion of nutrients and on the hematological profile of horses. Twelve horses were used in a completely randomized design, with three treatments and four replicates. Aliquots of 50 or 100 µg kg-1 of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were added to a basal diet naturally containing mycotoxins. The basal diet did not contain AFB1. The 40-day evaluation included a 12-day adaptation period and a 28-day experimental period. A digestion test was carried out at the end of the experimental period, using the partial stool collection method, using LIPE® as an indicator. Blood samples were collected once a week during 4 weeks of the essay for hematological and biochemical evaluations. The amounts of mycotoxins added did not influence the intake and digestibility of the nutrients (P>0.05). The aflatoxins in the diet influenced the white blood cell count, especially mature neutrophils and the creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase (P <0.05), which had higher activity in horses fed diets with greater toxicity.