Ewuola E.O., Gbore F.A., Ogunlade J.T., Bandyopadhyay R., Niezen J., Egbunike G.N.
Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Pathology Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ibadan, Nigeria
Ewuola, E.O., Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Gbore, F.A., Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogunlade, J.T., Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Bandyopadhyay, R., Pathology Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria; Niezen, J., Pathology Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ibadan, Nigeria; Egbunike, G.N., Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Maize grains contaminated with fumonisin, a metabolite of Fusarium verticillioides was incorporated into matured male rabbits' diet to evaluate its effects on performance, haematology and serum biochemistry in rabbits. Thirty individually caged crossbred adult rabbit bucks averaging 1.36 ± 0.01 kg (about 22-24-week-old) were randomly allotted to three treatment diets comprising a control diet (containing 0.35 ± 0.02 mg fumonisin/kg) and two test diets containing 12.30 ± 0.16 and 24.56 ± 0.14 mg fumonisin/kg, constituting treatments 1 (low infection), 2 (medium infection) and 3 (high infection), respectively, in a five-week feeding trial. Results showed that the dry matter intake (DMI) (g/rabbit) at the end of the feeding trial was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced. The DMI declined with increasing dietary fumonisin by a significant 80% and 95% (P < 0.05) for high and medium levels of dietary fumonisin, respectively, relative to the mean weekly DMI of 609.93 ± 45.08 g by rabbits fed diet with low level of fumonisin. The weekly weight gain tended to decrease with increased dietary fumonisin levels, while the haematological and serum biochemical components examined, were not statistically influenced among the diets when fed to male rabbits for a period of 5 weeks. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
fumonisin; plasma protein; animal; article; blood examination; body weight; dose response; drug effect; eating; male; metabolism; rabbit; randomization; weight gain; Animals; Blood Proteins; Body Weight; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Fumonisins; Hematologic Tests; Male; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Weight Gain; Fusarium; Gibberella moniliformis; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Zea mays