The Pathology of Mycotoxicosis of Certain Fungi in Chickens

Abstract
Unvaccinated chicks free of Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6 strain and unvaccinated broiler chicks were fed methanol treated wheat cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus (from a White Pekin duck), A. flavus (isolated directly from English toxic meal), A. flavus (ATCC), and Pinicillium islandicum (ATCC). Each group was weighed weekly, and no significant differences were noted. On histological examination of the livers at the termination of the experiment, typical mycotoxic lesions were observed in the chicks receiving A. fumigatus and A. flavus (ATCC). Ducklings, used at the close of the experiment to confirm the toxicity of the 2 A. flavus feeds, showed the characteristic liver lesion of hyperplasia and proliferation of bile ducts, in many cases extending up into the sinusoids. A total of 400 chicks and 25 ducklings were used.