Deoxynivalenol-3-sulphate is the major metabolite of dietary deoxynivalenol in eggs of laying hens

Abstract

Previous studies reported very low carry-over of dietary deoxynivalenol (DON) into eggs of laying hens. However, recent studies showed that DON is extensively metabolised to DON-3-sulphate (DON-3S) in chickens. We therefore hypothesised that DON-3S might also be a major DON metabolite in eggs of laying hens fed with DON contaminated diet. The aim of the work was to develop, validate and apply an LC-MS/MS based method for determination of DON, deepoxy-DON (DOM), DON-3S, and DOM-3-sulphate (DOM-3S) in freeze-dried eggs of laying hens. Laying hens were allocated to three treatment groups (negative control (NC); DON low (3.8 mg/kg DON in feed); DON high (7.5 mg/kg DON in feed)) and eggs were collected in the 5th, 7th and 10th week of the trial. DON-3S was identified as the major DON metabolite in eggs for the first time with average concentrations in fresh eggs <0.74 ng/g in the NC, 4.4-6.4 ng/g in the DON low group and 7.9-9.7 ng/g in the DON high group. DON-3S was also the major DON metabolite in chicken plasma, with average concentrations of 6.8±4.1 and 10±7 ng/ml in the DON low and DON high group, respectively. Experiments with intestinal explants indicated that DON-3S is in part already formed in intestinal mucosa cells. Considering the carry-over factor of 0.001, the European guidance value of DON in poultry feed (5 mg/kg), the tolerable daily intake of DON (1 μg/kg body weight and day) and the average egg consumption in Europe (0.5 egg/day/person), there is no significant health risk due to carry-over of DON or DON-3S into eggs, even if the per se non-toxic metabolite DON-3S might be hydrolysed back to free DON in the gut of the egg consumer.

A toxicokinetic study reflecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of deoxynivalenol in broiler chickens

“…The maximum peak of the area of DON-3S was achieved in plasma after 30 min post administration (Lauwers et al 2019). According to the recent study of Jurisic et al (2019), after feeding a dose of 3.8 and 7.5 mg DON /kg of DON feed to laying hens, the analysis of DON in plasma and eggs by LC-MS/MS revealed that DON-3S is the main metabolite, with an average concentration of 6.8 and 10 ng/ mL in plasma. Furthermore, the other metabolites, DOM-1, DON-3α-glucuronide, DON-10-sulfonate and DOM-1-10-sulfonate, were only detected at traces or were not detectable in chickens and Turkey poults (Devreese et al 2015;Schwartz-Zimmermann et al 2015).…”

Biodegradation of Deoxynivalenol by Nocardioides sp. ZHH-013: 3-keto-Deoxynivalenol and 3-epi-Deoxynivalenol as Intermediate Products

“…In addition, DON derivatives are important sources of DON for animals and humans. Wheat cultivars and toxigenic Fusarium strains can convert DON into masked mycotoxins, such as 3-acetyl DON (3-ADON), 15-acetyl DON (15-ADON), DON-3-glucoside, DON-15-glucoside, DON-sulfate, and DONglutathione (Miller and Arnison, 1986;Hassan et al, 2016;Jurisic et al, 2019). These masked mycotoxins can then be broken down into DON by gut microbes.…”

Biomarkers of Deoxynivalenol Toxicity in Chickens with Special Emphasis on Metabolic and Welfare Parameters

“…Since 2014, and with the improvement of the analytical methods it was reported that the most abundant metabolite in case of broiler chickens after receiving DON mycotoxin was a phase II metabolite named DON-3 sulphate (DON-3S) [ 35 ]. Still, the formation of DON-3S was observed also in turkeys, pigeons and laying hens [ 30 , 37 , 42 , 43 ]. Furthermore, in poultry no DON glucuronidation has been observed [ 30 ].…”

“…Then, they suggested that after absorption, DON is extensively biotransformed to DON-3S in the intestinal mucosa, liver and/or kidney. The elimination of DON-3S is rapid and complete into the cloaca via urine by the kidney (via the renal portal vein system in birds), or might be in part be subject to biliary excretion and excreted via feces, or back into the gastrointestinal tract via bile by the liver [ 36 , 43 ].…”