Aflatoxicosis in the Broiler Chicken ,

INTRODUCTION THE aflatoxins are a group of hepatotoxic compounds produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus when growing on feedstuffs. They first discovered in 1960 as a result of turkey “X” disease which was responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 turkey poults. Although these toxins were first discovered in poultry diseases, most research efforts were channeled toward public health aspects after it was found that the aflatoxins can be responsible for tumor formation in mammalians (Schoental, 1967). The research on avian aflatoxicosis has not kept pace with the research in other animals and there still exists an incomplete description of aflatoxicosis in the chicken. Archibald et al. (1962) fed broiler chickens a diet containing peanut meal contaminated with unknown amounts of aflatoxin and observed no effects for up to two weeks. Thereafter, uneven growth and pale livers with lesions were observed. The livers did not appear to be enlarged. Carnaghan . . .