Hepatic and renal functions in broilers fed on diets with aflatoxins and natural clinoptilolite

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate serum minerals and hepatic and renal activities in broiler chicks fed with diets containing aflatoxins and diets with aflatoxins and natural clinoptilolite clay. Five hundred and twenty-eight Ross male broiler chicks were grouped in six treatments with four replications each: T₁ – control: diet free from aflatoxins and clinoptilolite; T₂ – aflatoxins 5 ppm diet; T₃ – 0.25% clinoptilolite diet; T₄ – aflatoxins 5 ppm and 0.25% clinoptilolite diet; T₅ – 0.5% clinoptilolite diet; and T₆ – aflatoxins 5 ppm and 0.5% clinoptilolite diet. The birds were treated from the 1^st to the 42^nd day of age. Seventy-two birds were slaughtered. Calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) were all analyzed in serum. Aflatoxins decrease cholesterol; and 0.25% clinoptilolite decreases serum uric acid and has no effect at 0.5%. Aflatoxins plus 0.25% clinoptilolite diets decrease creatinine, uric acid and cholesterol serum levels. Also aflatoxins plus 0.5% clinoptilolite diets decrease creatinine and cholesterol, but increase GGT serum levels.