Efficacy of esterified glucomannan, sodium bentonite and humic acid to counteract experimental aflatoxicosis on antibody titers against Newcastle disease in broilers

  A study was conducted on the impact of aflatoxin (AF) and sodium bentonite, esterified glucomannan and humic acid, on immunization against Newcastle disease (ND) in broiler feed with naturally contaminated diet with aflatoxin. Seven-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to nine dietary treatments in four replicates of 12 chicks. Treatments were 1) Control; 2) naturally contaminated diet with aflatoxin; 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) naturally contaminated diet with aflatoxin supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0% humic acid, respectively; 8 and 9) naturally contaminated diet supplemented with 0.5% sodium bentonite and 0.1% esterified glucomannan, respectively. The measured aflatoxin in contaminated diet, confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), was 254 ppb. Blood sample was taken from each bird and the titers of antibody against ND were measured by haemagglutination-inhibition test. Compared to the control diet, the antibody titers against ND was significantly (P < 0.01) lower in 254 ppb aflatoxin fed chicks from 28 to 35 days of age. The addition of esterified glucomannan, sodium bentonite and humic acid to the AF-containing diet ameliorated the adverse effects of aflatoxin on ND antibody titers, but humic acid proved to be more effective in the amelioration of the adverse effect of AF on humeral immunity against ND.   Key words: Esterified glucomannan, sodium bentonite, humic acid, aflatoxicosis, Newcastle disease.