This study was conducted to evaluate the renal pathological changes and serum biochemical parameters in broilers fed a diet containing low-levels (254 ppb) of aflatoxin (AF) and adsorbents until 35 days of age. Seven-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to one of the nine dietary treatments with four replicates of 12 chicks each. Treatments were: 1) control; 2) naturally AF contaminated diet (NCD); 3,4,5,6 and 7) NCD supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1%, humic acid (HA) respectively; 8 and 9) NCD supplemented with 0.5% sodium bentonite (SB) and 0.1% esterified glucomannan (E-GM), respectively. Blood samples were taken on the 35th day of the study and the phosphorus, calcium, urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels in serum were analyzed. When the chicks reached 35 days of age, the feeding trial was terminated and 12 broilers from each treatment were selected at random and were killed for pathological examination. Microscopically, the kidney in chickens fed diet containing 254ppb AF showed significant lesions, compared to control. At the end of the study, it was determined that aflatoxin caused a decrease in BUN and an increase in phosphorous levels. The addition of HA and E-GM to NCD decreased both the alterations of serum biochemical parameters and the severity of lesions in the kidney. These results clearly demonstrated that histological lesions and serum biochemical changes were observed in chickens fed a diet containing 254ppb AF and that addition of dietary E-GM and HA is effective in counteracting the toxic effects of naturally contaminated feed with mycotoxins.
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