Efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate to reduce the individual and combined toxicity of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A.

A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of dietary aflatoxin (3.5 micrograms/g), ochratoxin A (2.0 micrograms/g), and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS, .5%) was used to evaluate the individual and combined effects of these treatments. There were six replicate pens of 10 broilers per pen for each of the eight treatments. The broilers were maintained on these treatments from 1 day to 3 wk of age with feed and water available for ad libitum intake. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A each significantly decreased body weight, serum protein, albumin, and cholesterol and increased the relative weight of the liver, kidney, and proventriculus. Aflatoxin increased the relative weight of the heart and decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and ochratoxin A increased serum uric acid. The toxicity resulting from the combination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A was more severe than when either of these mycotoxins were present alone. Addition of HSCAS alone did not alter any of the parameters evaluated. The HSCAS reduced the toxicity of aflatoxin, but had little effect on either the toxicity of ochratoxin A alone or the toxicity resulting from the combination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A.