COMPARISON OF 2 HYDRATED SODIUM-CALCIUM ALUMINOSILICATE COMPOUNDS TO EXPERIMENTALLY PROTECT GROWING BARROWS FROM AFLATOXICOSIS

Two formulations of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS-1 and HSCAS-3), anti-caking agents for mixed feed, were added to the diets of growing barrows and were evaluated for their potential to diminish the clinical signs of aflatoxicosis. The experimental design consisted of 8 barrows (2 replicates of 4 each/treatment) assigned to 1 of the following 6 treatment diets (total of 48): 1) 0 g of HSCAS-1 or HSCAS-3 and 0 mg of aflatoxin (AF)/kg of feed (control); 2) 5 g HSCAS-1/kg of feed; 3) 5 g HSCAS-3/kg of feed; 4) 3 mg AF/kg of feed; 5) 3 mg AF plus 5 g HSCAS-1/kg of feed; or 6) 3 mg AF plus 5 g HSCAS-3/kg of feed. Barrows were maintained in indoor concrete-floored pens, with feed and water available for 28 days (from 8 to 12 weeks of age). Barrows were observed twice daily and weighed weekly, and blood samples were collected at day 28 for hematologic, immunologic, and serum biochemical measurements. At the termination of the study, barrows were euthanized and necropsied. Barrow body weight pins were diminished, compared to those of controls, by consumption of AF alone and both of the AF plus HSCAS diets; however, the AF plus HSCAS-1 and AF plus HSCAS-3 barrow body weight pins were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those of the AF-alone barrows. No toxic responses or performance differences were noticed for barrows consuming either of the HSCAS-alone diets. Serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, calcium, cholesterol, albumin, triglycerides, and urea nitrogen were altered in barrows of the AF-alone treatment. The use of HSCAS prevented most but not all of the AF-induced changes in biochemical values. Immunologic measurements that were adversely affected by AF included mitogen-induced lymphoblastogenesis and peritoneal macrophage activity and function. The addition of HSCAS to AF-contaminated diets protected barrows from some of these toxic changes. Although immunologic measurements in the AF plus HSCAS groups were significantly different than those of the AF-alone group, values were still not equivalent to those of controls. These findings suggest that HSCAS-1 and HSCAS-3 are equal in their ability to protect against the toxicity of AF. Although these compounds may offer a novel approach to the preventive management of aflatoxicosis in livestock and poultry, HSCAS is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of animal diets for prevention of mycotoxicosis.