The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) on the hemogram and leucogram of broilers. The mycotoxins were added to rations, singly and in combination, at levels of 0, 50 and 200mug AFB1/kg, and/or 0, 50 and 200mg FB1/kg. A completely randomized 3 x 3 factorial design was used, with 9 treatments and 12 replications per treatment (total: 108 birds). Broilers were fed the contaminated rations from day-old 8 to 41. All the mycotoxin-treated groups had decreased (P<0.05) values of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte counts, which are common characteristics of anemia. The most affected birds were from groups receiving the highest levels of the combined mycotoxins. Lower (P<0.05) white blood cells counts were also noted in all groups fed mycotoxin-contaminated feeds, however, this reduction was more severe in broilers fed 200mug AFB1/kg, alone or in association with FB1. The conclusion is that both AFB1 and FB1, singly or in combination at the levels studied, can negatively affect the hematological parameters of broiler chicks.
AFB1; FB1; avian hematology; broilers
