Contamination With Fumonisin B and Deoxynivalenol Is a Threat to Egg Safety and Contributes to Gizzard Ulcerations of Newborn Chickens

Abstract

Fumonisin B (FB) and other fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) are mycotoxins (secondary metabolites of fungi) present at high levels of contamination in poultry diets and threatening the sustainability of the poultry industry and egg safety for consumers. However, residual mycotoxins in breeder eggs and their effects on chicken progeny and gizzard ulcerations remain unclear. To unveil mycotoxin contaminations from daily diets to breeder eggs, 293 poultry feed samples were collected from three large-scale poultry provinces across Northern China to Southern China. Average levels of 1,628 ± 4.36 μg/kg of FB1, 593 ± 11.16 μg/kg of DON, 69 ± 9.21 μg/kg of ZEN, 52 ± 7.33 μg/kg of OTA, and 24 ± 5.85 μg/kg of AFB1 were found in feedstuffs and poultry diets using commercial ELISA kits. In terms of residual mycotoxins in breeder eggs, FB1 and DON contaminations dominated residues in egg albumen and yolk samples. Out of 221 breeder eggs, the average residual of FB1 in albumen were 320.6 ± 10.12 μg/kg (Hebei), 420.2 ± 10.98 μg/kg (Guangdong), and 549.4 ± 10.27 (Guangxi). Moreover, higher residual of DONs were determined in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces compared to Hebei province. ZEN, ochratoxins A (OTA), and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination at low levels were found in the above samples collected from afronmentioned three provinces. Based on residual mycotoxins in breeder eggs, SPF embryonated eggs aged 11 days were inoculated into albumen with different doses of FB1, FB2 or DON, or a combination of FB1 and DON, or a combination of FB1 with FB2 and FB3. A lower hatching rate was observed in the chicken progenies with the combination of 24 μg of FB1 and 0.1 μg of DON compared to other treatments. Moreover, typical gizzard ulcerations with hemorrhagic lungs were observed in the progeny of breeder eggs post-inoculation of 24 μg of FB1 and synergetic inoculation of FB1 and DON. Finally, residual FB mycotoxins were detected in the gizzards and in the lungs of the progenies. Based on the above evidence, feed-borne FB1 and DON are dominant mycotoxins in breeder eggs and threatening food security using breeder eggs as a Trojan horse. More importantly, the residual of FB1 alone and in combination with of DON contamination are associated with low hatching rate and gizzard ulcerations in chicken progenies, hampering sustainable development perspectives of the poultry industry.

Protocatechuic acid: A novel detoxication agent of fumonisin B1 for poultry industry

“…Recently, avian gizzard ulceration has been documented frequently in poultry industry, leading to consistent diarrhea, poor feed conversion, and poor economic beneficence. Feed-borne FB1 and DON were associated with poor hatchability and gizzard ulcerations in new-borne chickens using breeder eggs as a transportation vehicle ( 6 ). In routine feed additives, large mycotoxin binders are recommended for detoxification of contaminated cereal or feeds due to low cost.…”

“…Before inoculation, the median infective dose (EID 50 ) of FB1-induced gastric ulceration in chickens was calculated to be 23.17 μg/ml using the Reed-Muench method as previously described ( 6 ). The samples were prepared according to the following protocols based on preliminary tests: 138 μg of FB1 were blended for 2 min and then 600 μl of 1 mol/L D-glucose, 600 μl of 1 mol/L PCA, and 600 μl of 1 mol/L silymarin were added.…”

“…Phenomenex prodigy ODS column (250 × 4.6 mm) was employed with a mobile phase of methanol:sodium biphosphate (77:23). The sample was detected at a flowing rate of 0.8 ml/min using the wavelength of 335 nm as previously described ( 6 ).…”

“…Mycotoxins can enter the human body directly through the consumption of plant-based foods with primary contamination or indirectly through the transfer of toxins and their metabolites into animal-derived products (milk, meat and eggs) with secondary contamination. They can also enter every stage of the food chain and food handling via a contaminated source ( 1 , 6 ). The B-series of FBs are the most common contamination, with FB1 being the most prevalent (70–80%) followed by FB2 and FB3, causing neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and embryotoxicity in both animals and humans ( 2 , 3 , 5 ).…”

“…Due to synergistic or additive actions, co-contamination of mycotoxins can result in toxicological interactions and act via multiple stages of the same toxic pathway or when one mycotoxin absorbs another, rendering some mycotoxins dangerous even at low concentrations ( 15 ). In a prior study, we discovered that residual FB1 contamination, both alone and in combination with DON, is linked to low hatchability and gizzard ulcerations in chicken progenies, jeopardizing the sustainable poultry industry ( 6 ).…”