THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMBINATION EFFEECT OF OCHRATOXIN A AND DON IN JAPANESE QUAIL DIET

Abstract

This research included the study interaction effect between two mycotoxins ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol (DON) in Japanese quail (Coturnix  japonica) diet . Results showed that the more frequent of fungi species associated with the store seeds of corn and wheat belonged to Fusarium and Aspergillus. The  more important species were found to be A. ochraceus and F. graminearum . The analysis of extracts from contaminated seeds on thin layer chromatography (TLC) proved that the two species produced Ochratoxin A) OTA( and Deoxynivalenol )DON( mycotoxin  respectively . The two mycotoxins  were  extracted , from rice seeds previously  contaminated with the two fungi , and added to Coturnix  japonica diet at 2 ppm of ochratoxin A and 10 ppm of   DON . The contamination of diet caused significant reduction in Coturnix  japonica  weight, 28.3 and 21.6% accompanying with increase of broiler death, 28.6 and 21.6% compared with control . The mycotoxins caused increasing in kidney , liver , heart and gizzard , by 198.41  , 150.8%  ، 156.52 , 141.1%  ، 191.67, 168.75% and  158.3 , 149.75% respectively . No significant decrease in fabricius gland by the two mycotoxins was observed . Significant  decreases were registered in compact cell , hemoglobin ratio and in number of red blood cells , while significant   increase in number of white blood cells and heterophil / lymphocyte cells ratio were observed. The mycotoxins caused significant decrease in total protein and significant increase in  uric acid in plasma. The presence of both of the two mycotoxins in the diet at the same concentration caused higher decrease in broiler weight , 32.23% and higher death percentage 35.7 % compared with 28.6% by ochratoxin A and 21.5% by DON of each separately respectively . Similar effects were observed in blood constituents and internal organs weight .