Effect of dietary addition of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on some performance parameters of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) induced by aflatoxicosis

by certain fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus spp and can occur as natural contaminants of poultry food [1]. Aflatoxicosis in poultry causes listlessness, anorexia with lowered growth rate, poor food utilization, decreased weight gain, decreased egg production, increased susceptibility to environmental and microbial stresses, and increased mortality [2]. Also associated with aflatoxicosis are reduction of immune function, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and teratogenicity [3]. Removing AF from contaminated food and foodstuffs remains a major problem and there is a great demand for an effective decontamination technology. The decontamination methods have focused on degrading, destroying, inactivating or removing AF by physical methods (heat, irradiation), chemical treatments (ammonia, sulphur dioxide, hypochlorite, ozone), nutritional supplements (vitaARTICLE ORIGINAL