Effects of Yeast Glucomannan and Sodium Bentonite on the Toxicity of Aflatoxin in Broilers

Effects of aflatoxin B1 and monensin interaction on liver and intestine of poultry – influence of a biological additive (Pichia kudriavzevii RC001)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and monensin (MONS) interaction on the liver and intestinal histological changes in poultry, and the influence of Pichia kudriavzevii RC001. One-day-old commercial line (Ross 308) broilers (n=120) were individually weighed and randomly assigned to 8 treatments (15 broilers/treatment, 5 broilers per cage and 3 replicates/treatment). The experimental diets were: Group 1: basal diet (BD); Group 2: BD + MONS (50 mg/kg); Group 3: BD + P. kudriavzevii RC001 (1 g/kg); Group 4: BD + AFB1 (100 μg/kg); Group 5: BD + MONS + P. kudriavzevii RC001; Group 6: BD + AFB1 + P. kudriavzevii RC001; Group 7: BD + AFB1 + MONS + P. kudriavzevii RC001; Group 8: BD + AFB1 + MONS. When MONS was added, the typical AFB1 macroscopic and microscopic alterations were intensified. The P. kudriavzevii RC001 cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays with Vero cells and with broiler chicken’s erythrocytes, demonstrated that P. kudriavzevii RC001 neither were non-cytotoxic nor genotoxic. When MONS was added in the presence of P. kudriavzevii RC001, the toxic effect of AFB1 on liver was not prevented. When P. kudriavzevii was present alone, the same prevention of the pathological damage was observed in the intestine of poultry fed with AFB1. The smallest apparent absorption area was obtained when AFB1 and MONS were added in the feed (P<0.05). AFB1 and MONS interaction demonstrated important toxic effects. Although P. kudriavzevii was effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of AFB1 alone on liver pathology and gut morphology, it was not able to diminish the toxic effects of AFB1 in presence of MONS. It suggests that P. kudriavzevii could be used as feed additive or counteracting the toxic effects of AFB1 in poultry production in the absence of MONS.

The efficiency of synthetic polymers to ameliorate the adverse effects of Aflatoxin on plasma biochemistry, immune responses, and hepatic genes expression in ducklings

To evaluate the effect of molecularly imprinted polymers as a synthetic polymer (TMU95) and commercial toxin binder (CTB) on aflatoxins (AFs) toxic effects on hepatic gene expression, and the biochemical and immunological parameters in ducklings, 240 four-day-old ducklings were randomly allocated into six groups with four replicates of 10 ducklings per each. The experimental groups were as follows: Negative control (basal diet without any additive or AFs), Negative control + TMU95 (5 g/kg feed), Negative control + CTB (Zarinbinder, Vivan Group, Mashhad, Iran. 5 g/kg feed), Positive control (0.2 mg AFs/kg feed), Positive control + TMU95 (5 g/kg feed), and Positive control + CTB (5 g/kg feed). On day 14, livers were collected (8 per treatment) to evaluate change in the expression of genes involved in AFs biotransformation (cytochrome P450 1A1 and 2H1) and antioxidant function (glutathione S-transferase). Several biochemical biomarkers and immune responses were also recorded. Compared with the negative control group AFs treatment significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and increased the aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (P ≤ 0.01). Cellular immune responses to the phytohemagglutinin-and 2, 4-dinitro 1-chlorobenzene skin test were significantly influenced by dietary aflatoxins (P ≤ 0.01) but a humoral immune response to Newcastle disease virus/vaccine was not affected (P ≥ 0.01). Compared with negative control group, the genes associated with AFs biotransformation were downregulated, whereas the gene associated with the antioxidant function was upregulated in birds fed AFs. The CTB supplement in contaminated feed could alleviate AFs adverse effects on cellular immunity, ALT concentration, and cytochrome P450 2H1 gene expression partially, whereas TMU95 could not ameliorate the adverse effects of AFs on the traits studied, except for ALP. The data suggest that TMU95 may alleviate some of the toxic effects of aflatoxins in duckling and it might prove to be beneficial in the reduction of aflatoxicosis adverse effect in poultry when used in combination with other aflatoxin management practices.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC016-based feed additive reduces liver toxicity, residual aflatoxin B1 levels and positively influences intestinal morphology in broiler chickens fed chronic aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets

The present study was conducted to investigate the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC016 (Sc)-based feed additive to reduce liver toxicity, residual aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) levels and influence intestinal structure in broiler chickens fed chronic aflatoxin B₁-contaminated diets. A total of 100 one-day-old male commercial line (Ross) broiler chickens were divided into 4 treatments, with 5 pens per treatment and 5 broiler chickens per pen. Birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatments, which were namely treatment 1 (T₁), control diet (CD); T₂, CD + Sc at 1 g/kg; T₃, CD + AFB₁ at 100 μg/kg; T₄, CD + Sc at 1 g/kg + AFB₁ at 100 μg/kg. The liver histopathology of broiler chickens fed diets with AFB₁ showed diffused microvacuolar fatty degeneration. The addition of Sc showed normal hepatocytes similar to the control. The small intestine villi from AFB₁ group showed atrophy, hyperplasia of goblet cells, prominent inflammatory infiltrate and oedema. In contrast, the small intestine villi from birds that received the yeast plus AFB₁ showed an absence of inflammatory infiltrate, and atrophy; moreover, a lower number of goblet cells compared to the groups with AFB₁ was observed. The morphometric intestine studies showed that a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the crypt depth values when Sc was applied to AFB₁-contaminated diets. Although the intestinal villus height and apparent adsorption area did not show significant differences (P > 0.05), there was a tendency to improve these parameters. The residual levels of AFB₁ in livers were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the presence of the yeast. The present work demonstrated that the addition of Sc alone or in combination with AFB₁ in the broiler chicken diets had a beneficial effect in counteracting the toxic effects of AFB₁ in livers besides improving the histomorphometric parameters and modulating the toxic effect of AFB₁ in the intestine.

Comparative evaluation of aflatoxin and mineral binding activity of molecular imprinted polymer designed for dummy template using in vitro and in vivo models

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in ducklings was examined by feeding molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) synthesized to target the aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) analog molecule [5, 7-dimethoxycoumarin (DMC)] as a smart and novel toxin binder in comparison to a commercial toxin binder (CTB). MIP was characterized with some techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) that showed morphology and thermal resistance of MIP, respectively. The SEM showed that more pores and big cavities were formed in the network of the MIP. TGA plots of MIP showed dehydration at temperatures of about 31 °C-200 °C and gradual decomposition until 300 °C. The in vitro and in vivo ability of MIP and CTB to adsorb some minerals (Ca, Cu, Mg, P and Zn) was evaluated. The in vivo efficacy of MIP as an aflatoxins (AFs) binder in duckling exposed to aflatoxin-contaminated feed from 4 to 18 d of age was also compared to that of the CTB. A total of 240 4-d-old ducklings were assigned to experimental diets. Each diet was replicated four times with 10 birds in each pen, and the initial body weight classes were considered as blocks. The experimental treatment diets included: 1- Control (basal diet without any additive or AFs), 2- MIP (5 g/kg diet), 3- CTB (5 g/kg diet), 4- AFs (0.2 mg/kg diet), 5- AFs + MIP (0.2 mg/kg + 5 g/kg diet), and 6- AFs + CTB (0.2 mg/kg + 5 g/kg diet). In vitro study may clearly reflect the possibility of adsorbing minerals by CTB as compared to MIP whilst the results were not confirmed by in vivo study and it seems that reduction in plasma levels of minerals is related to the adverse effects of AFs. Livers showed histopathological alterations, with bile-duct proliferation of all aflatoxin fed ducklings. Macroscopic study indicated liver of birds fed diets containing AFs showed abnormal signs including yellowish, friable and rounded shape without protective effect of MIP and CTB. The results obtained from in vivo study indicate the partial alleviation of the adverse effects of AFs in ducklings by dietary supplementation of MIP and CTB (5 g/kg) on plasma albumin, Zn, Mg and Ca.

Effect of probiotic supplement on aflatoxicosis and gene expression in the liver of broiler chicken

The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the effectiveness of a biological mycotoxin binder (Nutritox^®) in detoxifying aflatoxicosis. Ninety one-day-old chicks were chosen and divided into 3 groups. The first group received standard basal diet only, the second group received a basal diet with AFB1 (0.25 mg/kg diet), and the third group received a basal diet with AFB1 (0.25 mg/kg diet) and Nutritox^® (1 kg/ton diet). AFB1 feed contamination significantly reduced growth performance and deteriorated FCR. Moreover, it significantly increased serum AST, ALT, and malondialdehyde and significantly decreased serum total protein, albumin, globulin, SOD, CAT activities and glutathione peroxidase gene expression as well. Aflatoxin residues were detected in the liver tissues. Furthermore, the liver and kidney of AFB1 treated group showed pathological changes. The supplementation of Nutritox^® significantly reduced aflatoxin levels in the liver and counteracted the negative effects of AFB1.

Impacts of bentonite supplementation on growth, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, and histopathology of certain organs of rabbits fed diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of graded levels of dietary bentonite supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, and histopathology of certain organs in rabbits fed a diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. In total, 125 weanling New Zealand White male rabbits were randomly assigned to five treatment groups each of five replicates. Treatments were as follows: T1, basal diet with no aflatoxin and no additives (positive control diet, PCD); T2, basal diet naturally contaminated with 150 ppb aflatoxin and no additives (negative control diet, NCD); T3, NCD plus 0.5% Egyptian bentonite; T4, NCD plus 1% Egyptian bentonite; and T5, NCD plus 1% Egyptian bentonite. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Results showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the body weight and the body weight gain in the NCD, while they were improved (P < 0.05) in groups fed diets supplemented with different levels of bentonite. The relative weight of the liver and kidneys were higher in the NCD, while the liver weight was relatively high in the group fed NCD supplemented with 0.5% bentonite, and it was not significant in other bentonite-supplemented groups. Bentonite supplementation improved the digestibility coefficients of various nutrients. Bentonite addition decreased the histopathological lesions in liver, kidney, and intestine caused by aflatoxin-infected diets. In conclusion, bentonite supplementation overcame the negative effect of aflatoxin, enhanced growth performance traits, decreased the relative weights of the liver and the kidney which are usually increased by aflatoxin, caused significant improvement in nutrients' digestibility, and decreased the histopathological lesions caused by aflatoxin-infected diets. The level of 2% bentonite is recommended for ameliorating the aflatoxin effects.