Protective Effect of Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY) Against Aflatoxin on Blood Parameters, Ileum Morphometry and Hepatocytes’ Histopathology of Broiler Chickens Fed Aflatoxin B1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of specific egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against aflatoxin on reducing the defects of aflatoxin by adding to the drinking water of 192 day Ross 308 broiler chickens from 1 to 42 days old. The experiment was based on a completely randomized design with 6 treatments, 4 replications, and 8 observations (chicks). First egg yolks were immunized against aflatoxin by injecting aflatoxin-BSA conjugate to laying hens. Also extracted immunoglobulin with 1 and 0.5 percent /volume concentration was added to broilers' drinking water. The experimental treatments were: 1) control (without any additives); 2) ration contaminated with 1 mg kg-1 aflatoxin B1 (negative control treatment); 3) negative control + 0.5% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB1, 4) negative control + 0.5% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB1; 5) negative control + 1% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB1 and 6) negative control + 1% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB1. Using aflatoxin contaminated diet significantly increased serum cholesterol, and decreased serum total protein and albumin concentration (P<0.05). Also, histopathologic lesions observed in the liver. Adding 1 % (V/V) of immunized egg yolk to the drinking water (treatment 5) reduced serum cholesterol and increased total protein concentration compared to treatment 2 (P<0.05). The length and width of the villi and the villi surface area of chicks receiving treatment 5 were higher than treatment 2 (P<0.05). Liver tissue in chicken receiving treatment 3 and 5, was almost normal and few changes were observed in hepatocytes. The results indicate that specific IgY against AFB1 can be effective in reducing the defects of experimental aflatoxicosis as a detoxification agent.