The Effect of Aflatoxin B1 Contamination on the Antioxidant Status of Broilers’ Liver and Breast Muscle

Aflatoxin (AFB1) hampers the animal husbandry and causes a health hazard to human through the transfer of toxins through contaminated animal products leading to hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of AFB1 in feed, liver and breast muscles among five broiler farms in Egypt by immune affinity fluorometric method.The effects of aflatoxin on antioxidant components (Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide (SOD)) were determined. Moreover, the expression levels of the SOD an‎d GPx genes were determined. A total of 300 samples (100 feed stuff, 100 liver 100 and breast muscles samples) were collected from different farms at age of marketing. The results revealed that the aflatoxin B1 level in the feed stuff, liver and muscle samples were higher than the permissible limit of European Commission with increased significant difference in feed samples comparing with permissible limit. Also the mean values of liver samples were higher than those detected in muscle. On the other hand, the concentrations of LPO and SOD were increased in chicken livers at farms with high AFB1 concentration, whereas GSH levels decreased. Both SOD and GPx genes were up-regulated in positive correlations to the AFB1 levels.