Effect of Biocharcoals on Hematological, Serum Biochemical and Histological Parameters in Broiler Chickens Fed Aflatoxin B1-Contaminated Diets

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of charcoal from Canarium seeds and cow born on haematological, serological and histological parameters in broiler chickens fed AFB1-contaminated diets. A total of one hundred and sixty five 21-days old unsexed Cobb 500 broiler hens were divided into 11 groups having 15 birds in each group. Natural contaminated groundnut containing 80 ppb of AFB1 was mixed at 10 and 20% with other ingredients to obtain a final concentration of 36 and 60 ppb respectively and used as positive control (36T+ and 60T+). The dietary treatments consisted of supplementing the positive control diet with 0.2 and 0.4% charcoal from Canarium (36C0.2, 60C0.2, 36C0.4 and 60C0.4) or cow born (36O0.2, 60O0.2, 36O0.4 and 60O0.4). A test group was fed a diet 15T- (negative control) without contaminated groundnut. Body weight and weight gain tend to be improved with supplemental born charcoal at 0.4% (O0.4) and Canarium charcoal at 0.2% (C0.2). White blood cell (WBC) count and haematocrit tend to increase with increasing level of AFB1. The lowest glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GTP) and creatinine level was recorded with birds fed on diet 60O0.4. Supplemental born charcoal at 0.4% significantly reduces the serum parameters and may be used as protective agent in poultry to alleviate the harmful effects of aflatoxin B1.