Individual and Combined Toxicity of Deoxynivalenol and T-2 Toxin in Broiler Chicks

Effects of feeding diets containing deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated wheat (16 mg DON/kg) and purified T-2 toxin at 4 mg/kg singly and in combination were characterized in male broiler chicks from 1 day to 3 wk of age. Total body weight gains and final body weights were significantly reduced by the DON/T-2 toxin combination but were not significantly affected by the toxins singly. The efficiency of feed utilization was reduced in chicks fed either of the diets containing DON-contaminated wheat. The incidence and severity of oral lesions induced by T-2 toxin was increased in the DON/T-2 toxin combination. Several parameters not altered by DON or T-2 toxin singly were significantly affected by the combination, indicating that the combination may pose a potentially greater problem to the poultry industry than either of the mycotoxins individually.