Free access article

Vet. Res. 33 (2002) 83-93
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2001008

Spontaneous mycotoxic nephropathy in Bulgarian chickens with unclarified mycotoxin aetiology

Stoycho D. Stoev^a, Hristo Daskalov^b, Bozica Radic^c, Ana-Marija Domijan^c and Maja Peraica<sup>c

a</sup>  Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thracian University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
^b  Department of Veterinary Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thracian University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
^c  Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, University of Zagreb, Croatia

(Received 9 February 2001; accepted 28 August 2001)

Abstract
Histopathological, biochemical and toxicological investigations of tissues and blood of normally slaughtered chickens exhibiting different frequencies (1-2%, 40-50% and above 80%) of nephropathy changes (congested or pale and enlarged kidneys) at the slaughtering meat inspection were carried out to elucidate the aetiology of nephropathies of chickens encountered in Bulgaria. A close relationship was observed between the frequency of this nephropathy and the rate of nephrotoxic mycotoxin ochratoxin A in muscles, kidneys and livers of chickens, but the levels of ochratoxin A in corresponding feed samples (0.1-0.3 ppm) were significantly lower than the levels (2-4 ppm) required to reproduce such nephropathy. Clinicomorphological changes such as nervous symptoms, vascular and oedematous changes in various internal organs and the brain, and subcutaneous or liver and kidney haemorrhages in addition to known degenerative changes in the kidneys, liver and lymphoid organs differed from the classical description of the nephropathy made in Scandinavia. The conclusion is that the Bulgarian chicken nephropathy may have a multitoxic aetiology because it cannot be explained by the concentration of ochratoxin A alone.

Résumé
Néphropathie mycotoxique spontanée sans étiologie mycotoxique déterminée chez des poulets bulgares. Des études histopathologiques, biochimiques et toxicologiques des tissus et du sang de poulets montrant des fréquences variées (1-2 %, 40-50 % et supérieures à 80 %) de changements néphropathiques (reins congestionnés ou pâles et hypertrophiés) lors de l'inspection des viandes à l'abattoir, ont été entreprises afin de déterminer l'étiologie des néphropathies du poulet en Bulgarie. Une relation étroite a été observée entre la fréquence de cette néphropathie et le taux de la mycotoxine ochratoxine A néphrotoxique dans le muscle, le rein et le foie de poulet. Cependant, les taux d'ochratoxine A dans les échantillons de nourriture correspondants (1,1-0,3 ppm) étaient significativement inférieurs aux taux requis pour obtenir une telle néphropathie (2-4 ppm). Les changements clinico-morphologiques différaient de la description classique de cette néphropathie faite en Scandinavie par les symptômes nerveux, les changements vasculaires et oedémateux dans divers organes internes et dans le cerveau, et par les hémorragies sous-cutanées et du foie et des reins, qui venaient s'ajouter aux changements dégénérescents déjà connus dans les reins, le foie et les organes lymphoïdes. En conclusion, cette néphropathie des poulets bulgares pourrait avoir une étiologie multitoxique, car elle ne peut pas être expliquée uniquement par la concentration d'ochratoxine A.

Key words: mycotoxic nephropathy / ochratoxicosis / mycotoxin / ochratoxin A / pathology

Mots clés : néphropathie mycotoxique / ochratoxicose / mycotoxine / ochratoxine A / pathologie

Correspondence and reprints: Stoycho D. Stoev Tel.: (359) 42 70282; fax: (359) 42 45101;
    e-mail: S_Stoev@hotmail.com

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2002

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