Effects of feeding aFusarium poae extract and a natural zeolite to broiler chickens

A meta-analysis of the effects of clay mineral supplementation on alkaline phosphatase, broiler health, and performance

The crucial constraint in the broiler production sector is feed efficiency; many feed additives have been widely employed to increase broiler growth. Nonetheless, some of these substances exacerbate health and animal-based food product safety concerns. This meta-analysis examines the effect of clay minerals on alkaline phosphatase (ALP), broiler health, and performance. Metadata was constructed from 369 data items that were harvested from 86 studies. The addition of clay minerals was set as a fixed effect and the difference between experiments was established as a random effect. The metadata were fitted using a linear mixed model. Due to the presence of clay minerals, growth performance as assessed by body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and performance efficiency index (PEI) increased significantly (P < 0.01). In the total period, the increases of BW, ADG, and PEI were 4.12 g, 0.0714 g/d, and 0.648, respectively, per unit of clay minerals added. Clay minerals did not affect blood serum parameters (e.g., ALP and calcium). The IgA and IgM concentrations in the jejunum and ileum were significantly greater (P < 0.01) in the starter phase. Among clay minerals, broilers fed diets with aluminosilicate, halloysite, kaolin, and zeolite consistently exhibited higher (P < 0.05) BW, ADG, PEI, and lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) in the finisher phase. Aluminosilicate was the only clay that increased (P < 0.05) secretory IgA concentration in both jejunum and ileum. In conclusion, clay minerals could be used as a growth promoter, especially during the finisher phase, without adversely affecting feed intake, liver function, and mineral metabolism in broiler chickens. Aluminosilicate was superior in improving the mucosal immunity status of broiler chickens.

Toxicity and detoxification of T-2 toxin in poultry

This review summarizes the updated knowledge on the toxicity of T-2 on poultry, followed by potential strategies for detoxification of T-2 in poultry diet. The toxic effects of T-2 on poultry include cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, metabolism modulation, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, skeletal toxicity, nephrotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, etc. Cytotoxicity is the primary toxicity of T-2, characterized by inhibiting protein and nucleic acid synthesis, altering the cell cycle, inducing oxidative stress, apoptosis and necrosis, which lead to damages of immune organs, liver, digestive tract, bone, kidney, etc., resulting in pathological changes and impaired physiological functions of these organs. Glutathione redox system, superoxide dismutase, catalase and autophagy are protective mechanisms against oxidative stress and apoptosis, and can compensate the pathological changes and physiological functions impaired by T-2 to some degree. T-2 detoxifying agents for poultry feeds include adsorbing agents (e.g., aluminosilicate-based clays and microbial cell wall), biotransforming agents (e.g., Eubacterium sp. BBSH 797 strain), and indirect detoxifying agents (e.g., plant-derived antioxidants). These T-2 detoxifying agents could alleviate different pathological changes to different degrees, and multi-component T-2 detoxifying agents can likely provide more comprehensive protection against the toxicity of T-2.

Effect of dietary T-2 toxin levels on liveability, organs weight, immunity and histopathology of organs in Japanese quails

To establish the tolerance level of T-2 toxin, day-old Japanese quail chicks (n=225) were divided into five dietary treatments: T1, control; T2, T1+50 ppb T-2 Toxin; T3, T1+100 ppb T-2 Toxin; T4, T1+150 ppb T-2 Toxin; T5, T1+200 ppb T-2 Toxin. Each diet was fed to 3 replicated groups of 15 birds each from 1 to 35 days of age. The results showed that the overall liveability percentage, at fifth week of age in T1 was statistically similar to T2 and T3; and higher than T4 and T5. The relative weight of liver, kidney and spleen in T1 was lower than T4 and T5; and statistically similar to T2 and T3. The relative weight of bursa in T1 was higher than T4 and T5; and statistically similar to T2 and T3. The CMI and HA titre values in T1 was higher than T4 and T5. The CMI and HA titre value in group T1 was statistically similar to T2 and T3. In group T2, mild necrosis of mucosa in the proventriculus and gizzard and in T3, dystrophy and granular degeneration in the liver and kidney and necrosis of mucosa in the gizzard and proventriculus was observed. In T4 and T5, severe histopathological lesions including hepatocyte necrosis with discrete foci, necrosis and inflammation of gallbladder mucosa having mild proliferation of bile ductules, necrosis of intestinal epithelium following transient shortening of villi and mitotic figures in crypt epithelium; necrosis in feather epithelium and mucosa of the proventriculus and gizzard was observed. In addition, dystrophy and granular degeneration in the liver and kidney; interstitial nephritis, kidney sclerosis and glomerulonephritis was also observed. It was concluded that Japanese quails can tolerate up to 100 ppb of T-2 toxin in their diet without any adverse effects on their liveability percentage, organs weight, immunity and histopathology of organs during 0-5 weeks of growth period.

Distribution and persistence of residual T-2 and HT-2 toxins from moldy feed in broiler chickens

T-2 and HT-2 widely found in food products can seriously affect human and animal health. In this study, sterilized corn was inoculated with F. poae and incubated to allow fungal growth before being examined via liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to determine the concentrations of T-2/HT-2. Broilers were then fed with a mix of moldy corn and normal feed at different ratios to obtain different toxin doses. After 35 days, the contaminated feed was replaced with mycotoxin-free feed and the distribution and concentration of residual toxins in the tissues and organs of the chickens were examined at different time points. The results showed that at the time of feed replacement (0 h), T-2 residue was present at significantly higher concentrations in the lungs and small intestines than in other tissues (P < 0.05). In addition, T-2 concentrations increased in a dose-dependent manner in the tissues of chickens in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups; however, the differences in concentration between the groups were not statistically significant. The HT-2 content (0 h) in the livers and small intestines was significantly higher than that in other tissues (P < 0.05). At 48 h post-feed replacement, the concentration of T-2 dropped below detectable levels in all tissues while HT-2 could still be detected at 192 h post-feed replacement. Thus, this study reveals the distribution and persistence of residual T-2/HT-2 from moldy feed in broilers, providing a reference for the detection of these toxins in animal-derived food products and a theoretical basis for formulating food-safety and quality standards.

Risk to human and animal health related to the presence of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol in food and feed

4,15‐Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) is a mycotoxin primarily produced by Fusarium fungi and occurring predominantly in cereal grains. As requested by the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) assessed the risk of DAS to human and animal health related to its presence in food and feed. Very limited information was available on toxicity and on toxicokinetics in experimental and farm animals. Due to the limitations in the available data set, human acute and chronic health‐based guidance values (HBGV) were established based on data obtained in clinical trials of DAS as an anticancer agent (anguidine) after intravenous administration to cancer patients. The CONTAM Panel considered these data as informative for the hazard characterisation of DAS after oral exposure. The main adverse effects after acute and repeated exposure were emesis, with a no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) of 32 μg DAS/kg body weight (bw), and haematotoxicity, with a NOAEL of 65 μg DAS/kg bw, respectively. An acute reference dose (ARfD) of 3.2 μg DAS/kg bw and a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.65 μg DAS/kg bw were established. Based on over 15,000 occurrence data, the highest acute and chronic dietary exposures were estimated to be 0.8 and 0.49 μg DAS/kg bw per day, respectively, and were not of health concern for humans. The limited information for poultry, pigs and dogs indicated a low risk for these animals at the estimated DAS exposure levels under current feeding practices, with the possible exception of fattening chicken. Assuming similar or lower sensitivity than for poultry, the risk was considered overall low for other farm and companion animal species for which no toxicity data were available. In consideration of the similarities of several trichothecenes and the likelihood of co‐exposure via food and feed, it could be appropriate to perform a cumulative risk assessment for this group of substances.

Effects of nanostructured zeolite and aflatoxin B1 in growth performance, immune parameters and pathological conditions of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

The reduction of Aflatoxin B₁ (AF) in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet was analyzed after supplementing Nanostructured Zeolite (NZ) in a 56-day experiment. Two hundred and seventy juveniles with an average weight of 23 ± 3.7 g were placed in 6 different groups of C (control as a basal diet), NZ_0.5 (basal diet + 0.5% NZ), NZ₁ (basal diet + 1% NZ), AF₅ (basal diet + 5 mg AFB₁), AF₅ NZ_0.5 (basal diet + 5 mg AFB₁ + 0.5% NZ), AF₅ NZ₁ (basal diet + 5 mg AFB₁ + 1% NZ) with three replications and were fed four times a day based on their satiation. No significant differences were observed in terms of growth performance among the experimental groups (P > 0.05). However, hepatosomatic index in fish fed by AF₅ NZ_0.5 was reduced compared with NZ_0.5 group (P < 0.05). The carcass moisture content showed a higher amount in treatment AF₅ NZ_0.5 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There was a decrease in fat content in treatment AF₅ compared to that of the control group (P < 0.05). Serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels in fish fed with aflatoxin were lower than in fish fed the diet without AF for all levels of NZ (P < 0.05); however, the interaction between AF and NZ was not significant (P > 0.05). Concentrations of C₃, C₄ and immunoglobulin M together with serum lysozyme activity showed no significant differences among all treatments (P > 0.05). No considerable histopathological lesions were observed in liver, kidney and spleen for all treatments. Based on the results, NZ showed some effects on physiological functions in juvenile rainbow trout fed by 0.5% dietary NZ which could improve performance in this species.

Toxicity induced by F. poae-contaminated feed and the protective effect of Montmorillonite supplementation in broilers

The T-2 and HT-2 toxins, the main metabolites of Fusarium poae, induce toxicity in broilers and accumulate in tissues. Consequently, during the breeding process of broilers, diets are frequently supplemented with physical adsorbents to protect birds against the toxicity induced by mycotoxins. In the present research, T-2 and HT-2 were produced in maize inoculated with F. poae. Mont, the strongest adsorbent based on in vitro adsorption ratios, was added to the contaminated diet. One-day-old chickens were randomly and equally divided into the following four groups: control diet group, Mont supplemented diet group, contaminated diet group and detoxification diet group. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Compared to the control group, the contaminated group showed significant decrease in body weight, feed intake and TP (P < 0.05), and marked increase in FCR, ALP, AST and ALT activity, T-2/HT-2 residues in the tissues and the relative expressions of apoptosis-related mRNAs (P < 0.05). Mont supplementation provided protection for the treated broilers in terms of performance, blood biochemistry, hepatic function, T-2/HT-2 residue of tissues and apoptosis. Therefore, Mont may be suitable as a detoxification agent for T-2/HT-2 in feed for broilers.