Effects of feeding Fusarium moniliforme culture material, containing known levels of fumonisin B1, in the young turkey poult.

The effects of feeding Fusarium moniliforme culture material, containing known concentrations of fumonisin B1 (FB1), were studied in turkey poults. Day-old poults were allotted randomly to dietary treatments containing 0, 0.41, 0.82, 1.23, 1.64. 2.87, 4.10, 5.33, 6.56, and 7.79% fumonisin culture material (FCM). These levels of FCM supplied 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 175, 250, 325, 400, and 475 mg FB1/kg of feed. Each dietary treatment was fed to six pen replicates of six poults each for 21 d. Poults fed FCM that supplied 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg diet had lower (P < 0.05) feed intakes and BW gains. Increased (P < 0.05) liver and pancreas weights were observed in poults fed FCM that supplied > or = to 175 mg FB1/kg. Poults fed FCM that supplied 400 and 475 mg FB1/kg diet had increased (P < 0.05) red blood cell counts and increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Compared with controls, poults fed FCM that supplied 25, and 75 to 475 mg FB1/kg had increased (P < 0.05) liver sphinganine:sphingosine ratios. Hepatocellular hyperplasia was mild at 75 and 100 mg FB1/kg diet, moderate to severe at 250 mg/kg FB1, and severe at 325 to 475 mg FB1/kg. Multifocal to generalized loss of cross striations and thinning of cardiomyocytes was observed in poults fed FCM that supplied 475 mg FB1/kg diet. Results indicated that diets containing < or = to 1.23% FCM that supplied > or = to 75 mg FB1 /kg are toxic to young turkeys.