HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van Rensburg, C. J. Articles by Rottinghaus, G. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van Rensburg, C. J. Articles by Rottinghaus, G. E.

In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Humic Acid as an Aflatoxin Binder in Broiler Chickens

C. Jansen van Rensburg^*,1, C. E. J. Van Rensburg, J. B. J. Van Ryssen^*, N. H. Casey^* and G. E. Rottinghaus

^* Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, and Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 0002; and Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 65205

¹ Corresponding author: christinejvr{at}up.ac.za

The in vitro affinity and adsorption capacity of a humic acid, oxihumate, for aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) was evaluated, utilizing Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Oxihumate showed a high in vitro affinity for AFB₁. The Freundlich isotherm fitted the data better than the Langmuir isotherm, and binding capacities of 10.3, 7.4, and 11.9 mg of AFB₁/g of oxihumate at pH 3, 5, and 7, respectively, were calculated. The in vivo efficacy of oxihumate as an aflatoxin binder in male broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin-contaminated feed from 7 to 42 d of age was also assessed. The efficacy of oxihumate was compared with a commercially available product with a brewers dried yeast (BDY) and brewers fermentation solubles as main active ingredients. A total of 420 birds were assigned to 28 pens, with 15 birds per pen. The following treatments were applied: 1) 0 mg of AFB₁ + 0 additives, 2) 1 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 0 additives, 3) 1 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 3.5 g of oxihumate/kg of feed, 4) 1 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 3.5 g of BDY/kg of feed, 5) 2 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 0 additives, 6) 2 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 3.5 g of oxihumate/kg of feed, and 7) 2 mg of AFB₁/kg of feed + 3.5 g of BDY/kg of feed. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates. Oxihumate was effective in diminishing the adverse effects caused by aflatoxin on BW of broilers (P < 0.05). Oxihumate also showed protective effects against liver damage, stomach and heart enlargement, as well as some of the hematological and serum biochemical changes associated with aflatoxin toxicity (P < 0.05). Results indicated that oxihumate, but not BDY, could alleviate some of the toxic effects of aflatoxin in growing broilers. Oxihumate might, therefore, prove to be beneficial in the management of aflatoxin-contaminated feedstuffs for poultry when used in combination with other mycotoxin management practices. Additional studies are warranted to assess its efficacy under a wide variety of circumstances.

Key Words: broiler • humic acid • oxihumate • aflatoxin binder