Protective Effect of Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY) Against Aflatoxin on Blood Parameters, Ileum Morphometry and Hepatocytes’ Histopathology of Broiler Chickens Fed Aflatoxin B۱

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of specific egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against aflatoxin on reducing the defects of aflatoxin by adding to the drinking water of ۱۹۲ day Ross ۳۰۸ broiler chickens from ۱ to ۴۲ days old. Materials and Methods: The experiment was based on a completely randomized design with ۶ treatments, ۴ replications, and ۸ observations (chicks). First egg yolks were immunized against aflatoxin by injecting aflatoxin-BSA conjugate to laying hens. Also extracted immunoglobulin with ۱ and ۰.۵ percent /volume concentration was added to broilers' drinking water. The experimental treatments were: ۱) control (without any additives); ۲) ration contaminated with ۱ mg kg-۱ aflatoxin B۱ (negative control treatment); ۳) negative control + ۰.۵% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB۱, ۴) negative control + ۰.۵% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB۱; ۵) negative control + ۱% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB۱ and ۶) negative control + ۱% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB۱. Results: Using aflatoxin contaminated diet significantly increased serum cholesterol, and decreased serum total protein and albumin concentration (P<۰.۰۵). Also, histopathologic lesions observed in the liver. Adding ۱ % (V/V) of immunized egg yolk to the drinking water (treatment ۵) reduced serum cholesterol and increased total protein concentration compared to treatment ۲ (P<۰.۰۵). The length and width of the villi and the villi surface area of chicks receiving treatment ۵ were higher than treatment ۲ (P<۰.۰۵). Liver tissue in chicken receiving treatment ۳ and ۵, was almost normal and few changes were observed in hepatocytes. Conclusions: The results indicate that specific IgY against AFB۱ can be effective in reducing the defects of experimental aflatoxicosis as a detoxification agent.

Keywords:

Aflatoxin B۱ , Blood parameters , Specific immunoglobulin , آفلاتوکسین B۱ , سم زدایی , ایمنوگلوبولین Y , فراسنجه های خونی , هیستوپاتولوژی