Abstract

Possible mitigating effects of Borax against Ochratoxicosis in broiler birds

Authors: Muhammad Kashif Khan, Muhammad Kashif Saleemi, Zohaib Saeed, Muhammad Adil, Farrah Deeba, Ghulam Murtaza, Hafiz Muhammad Waqar Ahmad, Muhammad Abdullah Qureshi

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2024.007

Abstract
This study explores the toxic effects of ochratoxin (OTA) and the potential of Borax to control them, addressing poultry feed contamination in Pakistan. It aims to ameliorate ochratoxin-related issues in the industry. In this experiment, 270 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into six groups, each having three replicates: Group A controlled, which received neither infection nor treatment; Group B received OTA at 300 ug/kg of feed, and Group C and D were administered with Borax and Mastersorb gold (commercial toxin binder) @ 2 gm/kg feed. Groups E and F were offered OTA along with these ameliorating agents, and the study spanned 42 days, assessing clinical signs, feed intake, body weight, organ weights, visceral organ lesions, serum parameters, and haematology parameters. The results indicate that the birds in group B showed low clinical alertness compared to control group A, while groups E and F showed more alertness than group B. The birds fed with OTA alone showed decreased feed intake and poor body weight gain compared to the control group. Group E's feed intake and body weight gain improved more than Group B's. Group B's hematological parameters were significantly lower than the control groups. The serum parameters concentration of Group B was higher than that of the control group. Group E showed a lower concentration of these than Group B. Microscopically, group B showed tubular necrosis and congestion compared to the control group. However, the severity of lesions decreased in group E compared to group B. This study concluded that OTA has adverse effects on feed intake and weight gain, causing severe kidney and liver damage that results in increased value of biochemical parameters. The severity of these effects decreased with the supplementation of the borax, indicating ameliorative effects of borax over OTA.

Keywords: Haemonchus contortus, FAMACHA, Goats Fecal egg counts Packed cell volume Hemoglobin