A study was conducted to determine the cytosolic in vitro hepatic enzymatic kinetic parameters Vmax, KM, and intrinsic clearance (CLint) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) reductase [aflatoxicol (AFL) production] and AFL dehydrogenase (AFB1 production) in four commercial poultry species (chicken, quail, turkey and duck). Large differences were found in AFB1 reductase activity, being the chicken the most efficient producer of AFL (highest CLint value). Oxidation of AFL to AFB1 showed only slight differences among the different poultry species. On average all species produced AFB1 from AFL at a similar rate, except for the turkey which produced AFB1 from AFL at a significantly lower rate than chickens and quail, but not ducks. Although the turkey and duck showed differences in AFL oxidation Vmax and KM parameters, their CLint values did not differ significantly. The ratio AFB1 reductase/AFL dehydrogenase enzyme activity was inversely related to the known in vivo sensitivity to AFB1 being highest for the chicken, lowest for the duck and intermediate for turkeys and quail. Since there is no evidence that AFL is a toxic metabolite of AFB1, these results suggest that AFL production is a detoxication reaction in poultry. Conversion of AFB1 to AFL prevents the formation of the AFB1-8,9-exo-epoxide which, upon conversion to AFB1-dihydrodiol, is considered to be the metabolite responsible for the acute toxic effects of AFB1.