Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Fermented Chitin-chitosan (FERMKIT) on Toxicity of Mycotoxin in Ducks

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary FERMKIT, a commercial toxin binder consisting of probiotic-fermented natural product containing chitin, chitosan and chitosan oligosaccharides (FERMKITO  , EASY-BIO SYSTEM, Inc., Korea), in binding aflatoxin (AF) and zearalenone (ZEN) and ameliorating their mycotoxicity in meat type ducks. FERMKIT was supplemented to AF contaminated diets (at 120 ppb) at either 0.3 or 0.6% in experiment 1 and to ZEN contaminated diets (at 150 ppb) at 0.6% in experiment 2. In experiment 1 body weight gains were reduced by 37% and mortality was increased by 18% in ducks fed diet contaminated with AF at 120 ppb compared to ducks fed control diet (<10 ppb AF) for the 4-wk experimental period. However, dietary FERMKIT supplementation effectively alleviated overall toxicity induced by AF. The significant treatment-related changes in feather growth, web-toe hemorrhage, leg deformity, liver paleness, organ weights, hematological values and serum biochemical values, as compared to the control, were observed. The FERMKIT supplementation significantly diminished the adverse effects of AF and restored all the parameters measured back (<0.05) toward the control values. These findings indicated that FERMKIT, when added at the levels of 0.3 or 0.6% in the 120 ppb AF diets, could modulate the toxicity of AF with percentage sorption capacity of 52.70% at the level 0.3% and 79.85% at the level 0.6% of the diets (experiment 1). In experiment 2, FERMKIT, when added at 0.6% to the 150 ppb ZEN diets for the 4-wk experimental period, diminished the toxicity as shown by body weight gain, weights of testicles, oviducts, Bursa of Fabricius and cloaca eversion score as compared with the controls (<10 ppb ZEN) and 150 ppb ZEN diet with no added FERMKIT. The findings indicated that FERMKIT could be protective against the effects of ZEN in young growing ducks with percentage sorption capacity of 67.11% as evaluated from toxicity index parameter measured when added at 0.6% of the diets containing 150 ppb ZEN.

Nanoparticles as a Solution for Eliminating the Risk of Mycotoxins

“…Therefore, CS has shown promising results for mycotoxin elimination from different raw materials. In 1990s, CS began to be considered as a suitable mycotoxin adsorbent with approximately 70% efficacy [ 107 ]. In addition, a CS solution in a mixture with the minerals rektorit and attapulgit has been patented for removing feed zearalenone and reducing diarrhea due to its antimicrobial properties [ 108 ].…”

Cassava: Nutrient composition and nutritive value in poultry diets

“…Additionally, the amino acid concentration of cassava leaves is very similar to that of alfalfa ( Ravindran, 1991 ) and the ME ranges from approximately 1590 kcal/kg ( Khajarern and Khajarern, 2007 ) to 1,800 kcal/kg ( Ravindran, 1991 ). Dry cassava leaves can therefore be ground into meal to be fed to poultry as a source of protein and carotene ( Khajarern and Khajarern, 1992 ). The leaves can be harvested within 4 to 5 months of planting, without having any adverse effect on the root.…”

Cross-linked chitosan polymers as generic adsorbents for simultaneous adsorption of multiple mycotoxins

“…Chitosans with different molecular weights reduced the bioaccessibility of beauvericin in the simulated gastrointestinal fluid (Meca et al, 2012). Besides, a commercial adsorbent consisting of chitin, chitosan and chitosan oligosaccharides could provide protection against the combined toxicity of aflatoxins (AFs) and ZEN in duck (Khajarern, Khajarern, Moon, & Lee, 2003). However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no research carried out on the utilization of cross-linked chitosan polymers for simultaneous removal of multiple mycotoxins.…”