Morphological and hematological changes in young turkey poults acutely exposed to cyclopiazonic acid

Abstract

This study characterized morphological changes, further evaluating previously observed gross changes and dehydration () associated with oral administration of CPA to turkey poults. Poults were dosed with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) at 0, 5, or 10 mg CPA/kg/d orally for 2 days. CPA effects on feed and water intake, hematological values, histology, and cardiac papillary muscle ultrastructure were evaluated. Poults given 10 mg CPA/kg/d had significantly (P < 0.05) decreased body weight, feed consumption, and water intake at 24 and 48 h. Turkeys administered CPA at 10 mg/kg had significant hematological changes, including leukocytosis, heterophilia, and lymphocytosis. Histopathologic changes consisting of mucofibrinous necrotizing proventriculitis and ventriculitis, multifocal ulcerative enteritis, and mild multifocal granulomatous hepatitis occurred in all poults dosed with 10 mg CPA/kg/d. This study confirmed CPA toxicity in turkeys, exploring a lower dose range of this mycotoxin in a commercially important food species.

Keywords::

• Mycotoxins
• hematology
• poults
• toxicity
• histopathology
• body weight

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Drs. T. L. Carson and L. D. Miller for technical guidance.

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by the National Animal Disease Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.