Microbiology Research Journal International

Aims: To determine the effect of toxins extracted from Penicillium chrysogenum and Alternaria alternata on the hatchability of fertile chicken eggs.

Study Design: Extracts from the two moulds were injected into fertile chicken eggs to observe whether hatching was normal or abnormal.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Science College, KVAFSU, Bengaluru, Karnataka, from July 2014 to June 2015.

Methodology: Extracts from Penicillium chrysogenum and Alternaria alternata were injected into the air sacs of groups of labelled 4-day-old fertile eggs, which were then incubated at 37.5°C with 65% humidity. After 21 days of incubation, the eggs were examined to determine whether they hatched into normal chicks or whether embryonic death occurred. The toxicity of the mould extracts was evaluated on the basis of hatching success and chick quality.

Results: Fertile eggs inoculated with extract from P. chrysogenum did not hatch normally; instead, dead embryos were observed. Eggs injected with extract from A. alternata hatched normally, producing active chicks. The results were considered to indicate the presence of citrinin in the extract from Penicillium chrysogenum. In contrast, the extract from Alternaria alternata containing tenuazonic acid did not affect the chick embryos, and normal chicks were observed after 21 days of incubation.

Conclusion: The extract from Penicillium chrysogenum was considered to contain the embryotoxic mycotoxin citrinin, as indicated by the occurrence of dead chick embryos. The extract obtained from Alternaria alternata, which contained tenuazonic acid, did not affect the hatching of chick embryos.