Experimental aflatoxicosis and E. coli infection in broiler chicks effect on body weight gain and clinicopathology

The present paper describes the clinical signs, morbidity and mortality rates, body weight and organs to body weight ratios, in young chicks experimentally fed with aflatoxin in diet and E. coli infection either alone or in combination to see the interaction if any, for the period of 7 weeks. Of 4 groups, group ‘A’ chicks were fed aflatoxin @ 1ppm in feed from 7th day to 7 week of age, group ‘B’ chicks were infected with E. coli strain 02 at 14th day of age through oral route and group ‘AB’ chicks were fed with aflatoxin @ Ippm and simultaneously infected with E. coli at 14th day of age. Group ‘C’ (without aflatoxin and without E. coli infection) served as control. Clinically chicks of group A, B and AB showed Symptoms like progressive emaciation, dyspnoea, and diarrhoea leading to reduced body weight and organs to body weight ratios. In chicks of group A, B and AB the mortality rate was observed 3.3%, 20% and 36.6% respectively.