Effects of Fusarium moniliforme culture material containing known levels of fumonisin B1 in ducklings.

Fusarium moniliforme culture material containing fumonisin B1 (FB1) was fed to white Pekin ducklings from 1 to 21 days of age. Four dietary treatments were prepared with 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg FB1/kg ration. Ducklings fed rations containing FB1 had a dose-dependent decrease in feed intake and weight gain. Increasing levels of FB1 in the ration were associated with increasing absolute organ weights of liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and proventriculus. Liver sphinganine to sphingosine ratios increased significantly in ducklings fed FB1. Two of eight ducklings fed a ration containing 400 mg FB1/kg died prior to the termination of the experiment. Mild to moderate hepatocellular hyperplasia was evident in all ducklings fed FB1. Mild to moderate biliary hyperplasia was also noted in the liver sections of ducklings fed 400 mg FB1/kg in the ration. Ducklings, like other poultry, are relatively resistant to the toxic effects of FB1.