A Survey of T-2 Toxin, Ochratoxin, and Aflatoxin for Their Effects on the Coagulation of Blood in Young Broiler Chickens ,

Day old broilers were fed graded concentrations of dietary T-2 toxin, ochratoxin, and aflatoxin. After three weeks, the body weights, whole blood clotting times, recalcification times, and prothrombin times were measured. At growth inhibition doses, T-2 toxin had no effect on whole blood clotting and recalcification times but did cause a significant (P < 0.05) increase in prothrombin times. Ochratoxin caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in recalcification and prothrombin times but not in whole blood clotting time. Aflatoxin, however, produced significant (P < 0.05) increases in all three parameters. These results indicate that these mycotoxins in feedstuffs can produce serious coagulopathies in chickens and that aflatoxin alters hemostasis more severely than ochratoxin or T-2 toxin.