Pathological effects of feeding aflatoxin and t2 toxin in Japanese quail

Forty newly hatched Japanese quail chicks were randomly allotted to four groups of 10 each, i.e., control, AF, T2 and AF-T2. Crude aflatoxin or T2 either singly or in combination at 3 and 4 ppm levels, respectively were fed to the birds from day of hatch to 35 days of age. The relative organ weights of liver, kidneys, proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, spleen and bursa increased significantly (P<0.05) in all the toxin fed birds. Grossly, enlarged, pale or yellowish liver and enlarged and congested kidneys were observed in toxin fed birds. Yellowish plaques were seen on the lateral commissures and hard palate of T2 and AF-T2 fed birds. Histopathologically, liver revealed degeneration of hepatocytes and bile duct hyperplasia. Kidney showed haemorrhages, tubular epithelial degeneration and necrosis. Necrotic and diphtheritic oral lesions were observed in T2 and AF-T2 fed birds. Ingluvitis, proventriculitis, ventriculitis, enteritis and pancreatic acinar cell degeneration and skeletal muscle hyaline degeneration were observed in toxin fed birds. Lymphoid organs showed generalised lymphoid depletion and lymphocytolysis. Testes showed degeneration and necrosis of germinal epithelial cells. The present study revealed the individual and synergistic toxicity of AF at 3 and T2 at 4 ppm levels.