Browsing by Author "Kigozi, Abasi R."

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    The Role of Bentonite Clays in Aflatoxin-Decontamination, Assimilation and Metabolism in Commercial Poultry
    (Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 2022) Nviiri, Geofrey; Kigozi, Abasi R.; Turyagyenda, Laban; Mugerwa, Swidiq
    Most of the poultry feeds in Uganda are highly contaminated with aflatoxins (65-1000 ppb) far beyond the acceptable limits of 20 ppb. Due to the dependence on such feeds, commercial poultry in Uganda is highly susceptible to aflatoxicosis, which is reflected in the reduced growth and health performance. As a result, severe losses due to poor poultry productive performance and health defects are common due to the consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds. The purpose of this review, therefore, is to bring to attention the dangers of aflatoxicosis in the Uganda poultry industry, human-related consequences, and the possible mitigation opportunities. As a consequence of reviewing 105 research articles, it is observed that consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds poses vast aflatoxicosis-related production deficits as well as contamination of poultry products. The resultant aflatoxicosis, which is associated with compromised feed conversion efficiency, reduced vaccine efficacy, and histological organ deterioration, becomes a key production challenge. Such challenges not only increase the cost of production but also the risk of losing birds due to highly infectious diseases like Newcastle and infectious bursal disease, which are known to cause up to 100% chicken mortality. For that reason, poultry productivity and aflatoxicosis-associated risks in human populations cannot be improved without embracing aflatoxin-decontamination technologies from the feeds. The use of high affinity non-nutritive adsorbents like bentonite clays is one of the most promising decontamination techniques that can be used to combat the toxic effects of aflatoxins on feed utilization, organ health, and toxin carry-over in poultry products. Moreover, according to several authors, feed intake (DMI), weight gain, and organ health are key in assessing broiler response to aflatoxin decontamination. Whereas Uganda is well endowed with a diversity of such clays in the Albertine region, there is inconsistent and insufficient information about the inclusion levels of the different bentonite clay in poultry diets. In addition, none of the previous studies has compared commercial aflatoxin binders with other bentonite clays as well as established the optimum inclusion levels of Albertine bentonite clays. Yet, beyond certain optima, bentonite clays are hypothesized to hinder nutrient utilization alongside the negative effects of excess calcium in the case of calcium bentonite. Furthermore, due to the transfer of aflatoxins and their metabolites to poultry edible products and their effect on human health.