Effect of lignin supplementation of a diet contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on blood and intestinal lymphocyte subpopulations in chickens

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of lignin supplementation of a diet contaminated with the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) on peripheral blood leukocytes and duodenal immunocompetent cells in broiler chickens. From day 1 after hatching, all chickens were fed an identical control diet for two weeks. Then chickens of Group 1 continued to be fed the control diet, whereas Group 2 was fed the same diet supplemented with lignin at 0.5% level. Simultaneously, Group 3 started to receive a diet contaminated with DON (2.95 mg kg-1) and ZEA (1.59 mg kg-1), while Group 4 received an identical contaminated diet supplemented with 0.5% lignin for further two weeks. Samples of blood and duodenal tissue were collected from 6 birds of each group at 4 weeks of age. Neither counts of white blood cells nor phagocytic function in the peripheral blood were significantly affected in the mycotoxin- and/or lignin-treated birds. As compared to the control, increased numbers of IgM-bearing cells were found in the peripheral blood in Group 3 fed the contaminated diet (P < 0.05) and in Group 4 given the contaminated diet supplemented with lignin (P < 0.01). While the contaminated diet led to reduced numbers of duodenal CD4+ cells, in Group 2 treated only with lignin the number of duodenal CD4+ cells was increased. Lignin enrichment of the contaminated diet did not eliminate the mycotoxin-induced reduction in the number of duodenal CD4+ cells. The results suggest that dietary supplementation of lignin as an indigestible compound to poultry feed may increase the density of some intestinal immunocompetent cells without exerting effects on that in the peripheral blood. However, when added to a diet contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, lignin did not prevent the mycotoxin-induced changes in the numbers of blood and intestinal immunocompetent cells.

Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

“…OTA induces intestinal destruction reported in both animals and in vitro intestinal models (Schrickx et al, 2006;Maresca and Fantini, 2010). In vivo it causes intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, enabling the uncontrolled penetration of undesirable substances and pathogens (Revajová et al, 2013), and thus predisposing to intestinal infections. OTA had harmful effects on chickens even in concentrations as low as 0.05-2 ppm.…”

“…After absorption, OTA is diffused into various organs through the enterohepatic circulation, bound to serum albumins. Several mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, OTA, aflatoxin B1) induce apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, enabling the uncontrolled penetration of undesirable substances and pathogens (Revajová et al, 2013). OTA directly or indirectly affects the host immune response and increases susceptibility to infections (Elaroussi et al, 2006).…”

Effect of Varying Proportions of Lignin and Cellulose Supplements on Immune Function and Lymphoid Organs of Layer Poultry (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)

“…Three weeks after starting the experimental diets, heterophil phagocytosis percentages (% P) in groups A and Ce3Lig1 were higher (P＜0.05, n＝8) than in group Ce (Table 2). Revajová et al (2013) used a relatively higher concentration of lignin (0.5 g/100 g diet) for a shorter time (2 weeks) and observed no effect on phagocytosis in 4-week-old broiler chickens compared to the un-supplemented controls. Heterophil oxidative burst activity was higher (P＜0.05, n＝8) in group A pullets compared to that of pullets in group Ce (Table 2).…”

“…However, proliferation tended to be higher in group A, followed by groups Ce2Lig1, Ce3Lig1, and Ce (Table 2). Revajová et al (2013) have shown that lignin supplementation increases lymphocyte numbers in the villi of the intestinal tract (but not peripheral lymphocytes) and suggested that beneficial bacteria in the gut (Baurhoo et al, 2007) may contribute to the observed effect.…”

“…The phenolic units of purified lignin possess antimicrobial characteristics, and lignin has a beneficial effect on the production and health of broilers (Baurhoo et al, 2008). Compared to the unsupplemented controls, lignin affected the gut-associated lymphoid tissue of poultry by increasing CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocyte subpopulations in the duodenum (Revajová et al, 2013). Cellulose as a feed supplement increases the population of beneficial intestinal microflora and decreases the number of harmful microorganisms, thereby reducing the deleterious effects of potential pathogens in poultry (Cao et al, 2003;Shakouri et al, 2006;Saki et al, 2010).…”