RESUMO
The extracted microbial lipids were fed to forty Swiss albino mice of equal age and body weight for a period of 5 weeks. The microbial lipids were fed at 16%, 30%, 45% and 60% levels in addition to corn oil. The digestibility co-efficient of microbial lipids compared favourably with that of corn oil showing 95%, 95%, 96%, 94%, and 95% in groups I, ii, III, IV and V respectively. Histological studies of kidney, stomach and intestine were made. No microscopic pathological lesions were observed on liver, kidney, stomach and intestine of the mice at any levels of microbial lipids feeding. Histopathological examination showed no degenerative changes in any of the test mice. Therefore, the results suggest that the microbial lipids may be supplemented safely in animal rations for normal nutritional uses upto the extent of about 60%