Probiotic preparation reduces the faecal water genotoxicity in chickens fed with aflatoxin B1 contaminated fodder

Potential application of probiotics in mycotoxicosis reduction in mammals and poultry

Mycotoxins in feedstuffs are considered as a principal worry by food safety authorities worldwide because most of them can be transferred from the feed to food commodities of animal origin, and further consumed by humans. Therefore, effective alternatives for the reduction of the impact of mycotoxins need to be applied in the feed production industry. Applications of beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) can be alternative and applied as feed additives in order to reduce or eliminate the toxic effects of mycotoxins on animals. The aim of this article is to provide information on the role of beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) and point out their role in the reduction of the effect of mycotoxin toxicity in farming animals (mammals and poultry). The objective was to provide a summary of the existing knowledge based on the application of different strains belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or yeasts that are already or can be future employed in the feed industry, in order to reduce mycotoxicosis presence in mammals and poultry exposed to mycotoxin-contaminated feed. Moreover, an overview of mycotoxins toxicity in mammals and poultry will be presented, and furthermore, the role of the beneficial microorganisms (including probiotics) in the reduction of mycotoxins toxicity (aflatoxicosis, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and fumonisin toxicities) will be described in detail.

Modulation of Intestinal Histology by Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics Delivered In Ovo in Distinct Chicken Genotypes

Simple Summary

Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics are biologically active substances that are commonly used in poultry feeding as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. It was found that they could improve the intestinal microstructure as well as the health status and productivity of animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics administrated in ovo on the 12th day of embryonic development on selected morphological parameters of the small intestine in broiler and native chickens. After hatching, the chicks were placed in pens and housed for 42 days. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were individually weighed and slaughtered, and samples for histological analysis were taken from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The following parameters were determined: the height, width and surface area of the villi, the thickness of the muscular layer and the depth of the crypts, as well as the ratio of the villi height to the crypt depth. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that the substances used have an impact on the production parameters and intestinal morphology in various utility types of poultry. In addition, the obtained results indicate that chickens with different genotypes react differently to a given substance; therefore, the substances should be chosen in relation to the genotype.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics administered in ovo on selected morphological parameters of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) in broiler chickens (Ross 308) and native chickens (Green-legged Partridge, GP). On the 12th day of embryonic development (the incubation period), an aqueous solution of a suitable bioactive substance was supplied in ovo to the egg’s air cell: probiotic—Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (PRO), prebiotic—GOS, galacto-oligosaccharides (PRE) or symbiotic—GOS + Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (SYN). Sterile saline was injected into control (CON) eggs. After hatching, the chicks were placed in pens (8 birds/pen, 4 replicates/group) and housed for 42 days. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were individually weighed and slaughtered. Samples for histological analysis were taken directly after slaughter from three sections of the small intestine. In samples from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the height and width of the intestinal villi (VH) were measured and their area (VA) was calculated, the depth of the intestinal crypts (CD) was determined, the thickness of the muscularis was measured and the ratio of the villus height to the crypt depth (V/C) was calculated. On the basis of the obtained data, it can be concluded that the applied substances administered in ovo affect the production parameters and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens and GP. The experiment showed a beneficial effect of in ovo stimulation with a prebiotic on the final body weight of Ross 308 compared to CON, while the effect of the administered substances on the intestinal microstructure is not unequivocal. In GP, the best effect in terms of villi height and V/C ratio was found in the in ovo synbiotic group. Taking into account the obtained results, it can be concluded that chickens of different genotypes react differently to a given substance; therefore, the substances should be adapted to the genotype.

Detoxification, metabolism, and glutathione pathway activity of aflatoxin B1 by dietary lactic acid bacteria in broiler chickens

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the glutathione (GSH) pathway are protective against aflatoxin, but information on the effect of LAB on aflatoxin metabolism and GSH activity in farm animals is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LAB and aflatoxin B (AFB) on growth performance, aflatoxin metabolism, and GSH pathway activity using 480 male Arbor Acres broiler chickens from d 1 to 35 of age. Diets were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design, including AFB at 0 or 40 µg/kg of feed and LAB at 0 or 3 × 10 cfu/kg of feed, and the LAB was a mixture of equal amounts of , , and . The results showed that there were highly significant ( < 0.01) effects of AFB toxicity, LAB protection, and their interaction on ADFI, ADG, and G:F of broilers during d 1 to 35. Compared with the AFB diet, the LAB diet reduced ( < 0.05) the residues of AFB in the liver, kidney, serum, ileal digesta, and excreta on d 14 by 121.5, 80.6, 43.7, 47.0, and 26.5%, respectively, and on d 35 by 40.6, 60.2, 131.7, 37.9, and 32.9%, respectively, whereas the LAB diet increased ( < 0.05) the contents of aflatoxin M, a metabolite of AFB, in the liver, kidney, serum, and ileal digesta on d 14 by 98.2, 154.2, 168.6, 19.1, and 34.1%, respectively, and in the kidney and serum on d 35 by 32.6 and 142.2%, respectively. For the activity of the GSH pathway in the liver and duodenal mucosa, there were significant ( ≤ 0.01) effects of LAB and AFB on reduced GSH, glutathione S-transferases (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) on d 14 and 35; compared with the control diet, the LAB diet increased ( < 0.05) GSH, GST, and GR by a range of 11.6 to 86.1%, and compared with the AFB diet, the LAB diet increased ( < 0.05) GSH, GST, and GR by a range of 24.1 to 146.9%. In the liver, there were interactions ( < 0.05) on GSH and GST on d 14 and on GSH on d 35; in the mucosa, interactions were significant ( ≤ 0.01) on GSH and GR on d 14 and on GST on d 35. It can be concluded that LAB is effective in the detoxification of AFB by modulating toxin metabolism and activating the GSH pathway in animals.

Modelling of aflatoxin G1 reduction by kefir grain using response surface methodology

Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) is one of the main toxic contaminants in pistachio nuts and causes potential health hazards. Hence, AFG1 reduction is one of the main concerns in food safety. Kefir-grains contain symbiotic association of microorganisms well known for their aflatoxin decontamination effects. In this study, a central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to develop a model in order to predict AFG1 reduction in pistachio nuts by kefir-grain (already heated at 70 and 110°C). The independent variables were: toxin concentration (X1: 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ng/g), kefir-grain level (X2: 5, 10, 20, 10 and 25%), contact time (X3: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h), and incubation temperature (X4: 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60°C). There was a significant reduction in AFG1 (p < 0.05) when pre-heat-treated kefir-grain used. The variables including X1, X3 and the interactions between X2-X4 as well as X3-X4 have significant effects on AFG1 reduction. The model provided a good prediction of AFG1 reduction under the assay conditions. Optimization was used to enhance the efficiency of kefir-grain on AFG1 reduction. The optimum conditions for the highest AFG1 reduction (96.8%) were predicted by the model as follows: toxin concentration = 20 ng/g, kefir-grain level = 10%, contact time = 6 h, and incubation temperature = 30°C which validated practically in six replications.

Microbial strategies to control aflatoxins in food and feed

Aflatoxins are a group of toxic and carcinogenic fungal metabolites. They are commonly found in cereals, nuts and animal feeds and create a significant threat to the food industry and animal production. Several strategies have been developed to avoid or reduce harmful effects of aflatoxins since the 1960s. However, prevention of aflatoxin contamination pre/post harvest or during storage has not been satisfactory and control strategies such as physical removing and chemical inactivating used in food commodities have their deficiencies, which limit their large scale application. It is expected that progress in the control of aflatoxin contamination will depend on the introduction of technologies for specific, efficient and environmentally sound detoxification. The utilisation of biological detoxification agents, such as microorganisms and/or their enzymatic products to detoxify aflatoxins in contaminated food and feed can be a choice of such technology. To date, many of the microbial strategies have only showed reduced concentration of aflatoxins and the structure and toxicity of the detoxified products are unclear. More attention should be paid to the detoxification reactions, the structure of biotransformed products and the enzymes responsible for the detoxification. In this article, microbial strategies for aflatoxin control such as microbial binding and microbial biotransformation are reviewed.