EFFECTS OF AFLATOXIN ON OVARIES AND TESTICLES IN MATURE DOMESTIC FOWLS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Dept. of Animal Hygiene and Food Control, Faculty of Vet. Med., Assiut University,

Abstract

The present study aimed at: 1- Examination of commercial chicken and duck
eggs for the possible presence of aflatox
ins. 2- Study of the sex susceptibility of mature
chickens when fed on ration containing ar
latoxins. 3- Study of clinicop < /strong>athological effects on
their ovaries and testicles. In this investigation, 100 chicken and 50 duck eggs collected from markets in the vicinity of Assiut Governorate, were examined individ ually for the presence of aflatoxins in the whites and yolks. The study revealed that the examined eggs contained 20 aflatoxins. Experimentally, aflatoxin B(8.1 p < /strong>pm)and G.(1.6 pp < /strong>m) were incorporated into the feed of five laying hens and five mature cocks for three weeks duration. The layers showed cessation of egg production during the whole feeding period. Histopathological examinations revea led that, the ovaries showed follicular atre sia while testicles were normal. It was shown that, aflatoxicosis cause patho logical changes in the chicken ovaries, which has a detrimental effects on egg production.