Search for lesions caused by aflatoxin B1 poisoning in 3 industrial chicken farms on the Ivory Coast

A systematic search for feed contamination by aflatoxin-B1 as well as for lesions indicating an acute or chronic aflatoxicosis was made in three groups of industrially raised hens in Côte-d'Ivoire. The contamination rates were low although they were 6 to 10 times higher than the official standards. No lesion due to an acute or chronic intoxication by aflatoxins was observed. However, the repeated intake of small amounts of aflatoxins might eventually have repercussions on the technics-economical performance either by a direct action of the toxin or via the development of an immune depression in the animals.