Effects of ochratoxin and T-2 toxin combination on performance, biochemical and immune status of commercial broilers

Evaluation of the Role of Probiotics As a New Strategy to Eliminate Microbial Toxins: a Review

Probiotics are living microorganisms that have favorable effects on human and animal health. The most usual types of microorganisms recruited as probiotics are lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria. To date, numerous utilizations of probiotics have been reported. In this paper, it is suggested that probiotic bacteria can be recruited to remove and degrade different types of toxins such as mycotoxins and algal toxins that damage host tissues and the immune system causing local and systemic infections. These microorganisms can remove toxins by disrupting, changing the permeability of the plasma membrane, producing metabolites, inhibiting the protein translation, hindering the binding to GTP binding proteins to GM1 receptors, or by preventing the interaction between toxins and adhesions. Here, we intend to review the mechanisms that probiotic bacteria use to eliminate and degrade microbial toxins.

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.

Dietary Trichosporon mycotoxinivoron modulates ochratoxin-A induced altered performance, hepatic and renal antioxidant capacity and tissue injury in broiler chickens

Ochratoxin A (OTA), an important fungal metabolite in foods and feeds has been shown to induce oxidative stress and cellular injuries to human and animal subjects. This study was designed to investigate the mode of action of a biological modifier Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TM), against OTA-mediated oxidative stress and tissue toxicity on broiler chickens. The birds were offered diets supplemented with OTA (0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg feed) and/or TM (0.5, 1.0 g/kg) for 42 days of age, and blood and tissue samples were collected to examine the oxidative stress, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Dietary OTA at all the tested levels induced the hepatic and renal tissue injury as indicated by significant decreased total antioxidant capacity in these organs along with significant decreased (p ≤ 0.05) serum concentrations of total proteins and albumin. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urea were significantly increased, and these observations were further supported by degenerative changes and increased relative weights of liver and kidneys. The dietary supplementation of TM at both tested levels relieved the detrimental impact of 0.15 and 0.3 mg OTA/kg on the studied parameters. The results of the study demonstrated that dietary TM significantly protects broiler chickens by reducing OTA-induced oxidative damage and tissue injury.

Significance of varying concentrations of T-2 toxin on growth performance, serum biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chickens

The study was to determine the effects of diverse concentrations of T-2 toxin in broiler diet. Three hundred 1-day-old chicks with initial body weight of 46 ± 0.52 g were chosen and randomly assigned into five dietary treatments with 5 replicate cages and 12 broilers per cage for 42 d feeding trial. Dietary treatments were prepared with basal diets containing 0 (T₁), 50 (T₂), 100 (T₃), 150 (T₄), 200 (T₅) ppb T2-toxin. Significant results were observed in the decreased intake of feed, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight gain (BWG), level of serum protein, cholesterol and hemoglobulin of broilers in increased concentration of the T-2 toxin in diet (150 and 200 ppb) groups than control. Also, observed that the uric acid, serum glutamic pyruvic transferase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transferase (SGOT) and Heterophil/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio value were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in groups T₄ and T₅ than control. However, the BWG, feed intake and FCR, as well blood biochemical profiles of serum protein, cholesterol, hemoglobulin, uric acid, SGPT, SGOT and H/L ratio in groups T₂ and T₃ were statistically similar to control diet of broilers. It was concluded that the results showed that no adverse effects on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters in broilers feed with T-2 toxin (50 and 100 ppb) during the entire trial.

Impact of dietary Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans on ochratoxin A induced immunotoxicity; In vivo study

Ochratoxin A (OA), the secondary metabolite of certain Aspergillus and Penicillium species, is one of the potent biological immune-suppressor. The present study was designed to explore the in-vivo efficacy of Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TR); yeast strain isolated from the hindgut of the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis, against the immunotoxicity of OA in broiler birds. For this purpose, broiler chicks were offered diet added with TR (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg feed) and/or OA (0.15, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg feed) for 42 days. Dietary OA at all levels, resulted in significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in the immune response of broiler birds as recorded by vacuolation and darkly stained pyknotic nuclei in bursa of Fabricius and thymus, humoral immune responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), in-vivo lymphoproliferative response to Phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) and mononuclear phagocytic system function assay. Addition of TR in broiler diet significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) the immunotoxicity of OA at 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg; however, against higher dietary level of OA (1.0 mg/kg), a partial protection was observed. Feeding TR alone had no immunomodulatory effect at any of tested level. Dietary addition of TR is proposed as an approach to combat the OA mediated immunological damages in broiler birds.

Effects of Subcutaneous Ochratoxin-A Exposure on Immune System of Broiler Chicks

Ochratoxin A (OTA), an immunosuppressive mycotoxin, can increase the risk of many infectious diseases and contribute to economic losses to the poultry industry. The immunosuppressive effect has mainly been investigated through oral exposure; however, birds may also be contaminated through skin absorption. The present study investigated the influence of OTA exposure on the defense system of broiler chicks through the subcutaneous route and including low doses. Groups of broiler chicks (Cobb), 05 days old, were exposed to subcutaneous inoculation of OTA at concentrations of 0.1; 0.5; 0.9; 1.3; and 1.7 mg OTA/kg body weight. The size of the lymphoid organs, circulating immune cells, and total IgY and IgA levels were evaluated 21 days post inoculation. Subcutaneous OTA exposure decreased the weight of the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius, and leukocytopenia (p < 0.05) was detected in chicks of the OTA treated groups. In a dose-dependent way, decreased levels of circulating lymphocytes and heterophils (p < 0.05), and increased levels of monocytes (p < 0.05) were detected. Decreased IgY and IgA serum concentrations were noted in the OTA treated groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, subcutaneous OTA exposure induces immunosuppression even at low levels.

Low Doses of Ochratoxin-A Decrease IgY and IgA Production in Broiler Chicks

The mycotoxin, ochratoxin-A (OTA), produced by some fungi, and is a natural contaminant of many foods and animal feeds worldwide. Due to its toxic effects, the recommended maximum daily intake of OTA for poultry feeds is 0.1 mg OTA/kg (ECR2006/575/EC); this dose does not induce changes in hepatic/renal parameters, but decreases thymus size and serum globulin concentrations. Accordingly, in this study, we assessed quantitatively the total circulating IgY and IgA serum levels, in chicks consuming a 0.1 mg OTA/kg diet (limit) and higher doses (0.3–1.1 mg OTA/kg diet) for 14 or 21 days. We also evaluated other immunological parameters (thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen weights and leukocyte profiles) at day 21. Decreased IgY serum levels were observed in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05). In the low-dose group, IgA levels were decreased on day 21, but not on day 14. The size of the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius was decreased in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05), whereas reduced spleen size and altered leukocyte profiles were detected only in the high-dose group (p < 0.05). We concluded that chronic exposure to OTA, even at the recommended highest dose, affected IgY and IgA production in chicks.

T-2 mycotoxin: toxicological effects and decontamination strategies

Mycotoxins are highly diverse secondary metabolites produced in nature by a wide variety of fungus which causes food contamination, resulting in mycotoxicosis in animals and humans. In particular, trichothecenes mycotoxin produced by genus fusarium is agriculturally more important worldwide due to the potential health hazards they pose. It is mainly metabolized and eliminated after ingestion, yielding more than 20 metabolites with the hydroxy trichothecenes-2 toxin being the major metabolite. Trichothecene is hazardously intoxicating due to their additional potential to be topically absorbed, and their metabolites affect the gastrointestinal tract, skin, kidney, liver, and immune and hematopoietic progenitor cellular systems. Sensitivity to this type of toxin varying from dairy cattle to pigs, with the most sensitive endpoints being neural, reproductive, immunological and hematological effects. The mechanism of action mainly consists of the inhibition of protein synthesis and oxidative damage to cells followed by the disruption of nucleic acid synthesis and ensuing apoptosis. In this review, the possible hazards, historical significance, toxicokinetics, and the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects along with regulatory guidelines and recommendations pertaining to the trichothecene mycotoxin are discussed. Furthermore, various techniques utilized for toxin determination, pathophysiology, prophylaxis and treatment using herbal antioxidant compounds and regulatory guidelines and recommendations are reviewed. The prospects of the trichothecene as potential hazardous agents, decontamination strategies and future perspectives along with plausible therapeutic uses are comprehensively described.