Physionutritional effects of rubratoxin-B on rabbits.

The present work lasted 4 weeks to study the effects of rubratoxin-B (RTB)-contaminated diet (1 ppm) on performance and physiological nutrition of Baladi rabbits. In comparison to the toxin-free diet, the contaminated diet caused the following results: Significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) decrease in feed intake and significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increase in water/feed ratio. Digestibility coefficient of crude protein declined significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) whereas those of ether extract and crude fibre slightly elevated. The autopsy revealed rise of relative weights of liver, genital tract and kidneys (but not significantly), in addition to some gross pathological symptoms (haemorrhage in chest cavity and congestion of lungs, liver and caecum). The analyses proved significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increase in blood sedimentation rate, serum phosphorus, ether extract of liver and femoral muscle, tibia-bone contents of calcium, magnesium and specific gravity of the bone.