Efficacy of Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone in Reducing the Immunotoxicity of Aflatoxin in Growing Broilers

1. Protective action of an enzyme-linked polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP, Mycofix(R) Plus) against the immunosuppressive effect of afatoxins (AF) was evaluated by determination of peripheral blood TP-lymphocyte proportions and splenic plasma cell counts. Histological changes in lymphoid organs were also investigated by light microscopy. One-d-old broiler chicks (Hybro) received 2.5 mg/kg diet AF (83.06% AFB(1), 12.98% AFB(2), 2.84% AFG(1), 1.12% AFG(2)) with or without PVPP (3 g/kg diet) until 21 d of age. 2. When compared with the controls, AF treatment significantly decreased peripheral T-lymphocyte counts. AF caused a slight decrease in splenic plasma cell counts. The addition of PVPP to an AF-containing diet significantly increased T-lymphocyte counts. Splenic plasma cell counts were numerically intermediate between control and AF groups. 3. The dietary addition of PVPP to AF-free diet did not significantly alter either T-lymphocyte or splenic plasma cell counts.