The effect of sodium bentonite supplementation on growth, feed conversion rate and some biochemical parameters in rabbits fed on diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxins

Aflatoxins are metabolites generated by some molds, which can contaminate animal feed and cause serious health issues in humans and animals. Sodium bentonite, a type of clay, has been studied for its ability to ease the harmful effects of aflatoxins in animal diets. It is of great economic importance to find proper and easy methods to neutralize the harmful effects of aflatoxins that naturally occur in feed of animals. This protocol was designed to assess the effect of diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) on the growth performance, feed conversion rate, some biochemical and antioxidant parameters, and the role of sodium bentonite to mitigate this harmful effect and also to recommend which dose is better to use (1 or 2.5 %). The results showed significant decrease in feed intake, weight gain, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione, this harmful effect was restored by sodium bentonite supplementation (especially with the higher dose 2.5%). The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine and urea in serum were elevated due to aflatoxin intake and their values were returned to normal by sodium bentonite supplementation (especially with the higher dose 2.5%).