author(s)
AW Lakkawar, HD Narayanaswamy and ML Satyanarayana

abstract
The present study was carried out at Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, Bangalore, India from July 2014 to December 2014. The ability of Diatomaceous earth (DAE) in reducing the detrimental effects of aflatoxin (AF) on kidneys of broiler birds was evaluated following supplementation of 2000 mg DAE along with 0.5 and 1 ppm of AF/Kg feed. A total of 240 healthy day old broiler chicks were divided into 6 groups comprising of control and treatment groups. AF feeding caused enlargement, friable texture, yellowish discoloration and congestion of kidneys. Histopathology revealed varying degree of congestion and haemorrhages, glomerulo-tubular degeneration and mononuclear as well as heterophilic cellular infiltration in renal parenchyma. Co-treatment with DAE and aflatoxin resulted in significant decrease in severity and magnitude of renal lesions. The study concluded that 2000 mg of DAE in feed can be effectively used to reduce the histotoxic effects of aflatoxin in broiler chicken.