Effects of feeding wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on blood biochemistry and the effectiveness of dietary lignin treatment to alleviate mycotoxin adverse effects in broiler chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on some biochemical parameters and the efficacy of lignin to alleviate adverse effects of fusariotoxins in broiler chickens. Eighty, 1-d-old ROSS 308 broiler chicks of both sexes were used in the experiment. All birds received the control diet for two weeks and then they were fed experimental diets for two more weeks. The 4 diets included the following: 1.) negative control diet (0.1 mg DON/kg diet; 0.005 mg ZEA/kg diet), 2.) positive control diet (0.1 mg DON/kg diet, 0.005 mg ZEA/kg diet + 0.5% lignin), 3.) mycotoxin-contaminated diet (2.95 mg DON/kg diet, 1.59 mg ZEA/kg diet) and 4.) mycotoxincontaminated diet with the addition of lignin at 0.5% of the diet (2.95 mg DON/kg diet, 1.59 mg ZEA/kg diet + 0.5% lignin). The feeding of contaminated wheat did not significantly affect parameters of mineral metabolism, including calcium, chlorides and phosphorus. Decreased levels of total protein, albumin and potassium were observed. However, dietary supplementation with lignin prevented this effect. Plasma triglycerides and free glycerol levels were not affected by dietary treatments. There was a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and magnesium and cholesterol levels in plasma from birds fed contaminated wheat. Inclusion of lignin in the diet reversed elevated alkaline phosphatase activity in chicks induced by mycotoxin-contaminated diet. Results indicated that consumption of grain naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins can adversely affect chickens' metabolism. As a food additive, lignin was not effective in the prevention of Fusarium mycotoxins effects in chickens

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

“…Regarding biochemical parameters reflecting protein metabolism, it has been described that the total plasma protein and albumin levels of chickens fed a contaminated diet with 2.95 mg DON/kg feed during 2 weeks of exposure were decreased compared to control [88]. The reduction of total protein level after feeding DON to broilers was observed also in previous reports [27,89,90].…”

“…However, the same dietary level in chickens feeding during 42 days did not affect this enzymatic activity [19]. ALP and AST activities increased in broilers exposed to 2.95 mg DON/kg feed for the second last week of the trial [88]. Faixová et al [89,90] showed an elevation of serum ALT activity in broilers exposed to 3 mg DON/kg feed for 6 weeks.…”

“…Contaminated diet with DON at 5 mg/kg decreased the serum creatine kinase level in broiler chickens aged 42 days [19], reflecting the reduction of this enzyme from the circulation [93]. Generally, the changes obtained in enzymatic activities might be due to hepatic disorders, chronic liver damage, leakage of the enzymes into the blood, biliary obstruction, or kidney affliction [52,58,88].…”

Chronic Exposure to the Fusarium Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol: Impact on Performance, Immune Organ, and Intestinal Integrity of Slow-Growing Chickens

“…However, Klapáčová et al [ 50 ] previously found that the co-occurrence of DON and ZEA (2.95 and 1.59 mg/kg, respectively) may adversely affect chickens’ protein and mineral metabolism and liver function, as shown by plasma levels of several indicators. The possibility of combined effects of DON-ZEA on poultry at an internal level, rather than external, supports the need for further research using naturally contaminated grains.…”

Lipid Metabolism Indices and Fatty Acids Profile in the Blood Serum of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet With Lignocellulose

“…Traditionally, insoluble dietary fiber, consisting mainly cellulose and lignin, is considered as an energy diluent in poultry diets; however, it is documented that moderate quantities are indispensable for ensuring proper development and function of the digestive tract of poultry (Klapáčová et al, 2011;Mateos et al, 2012). It was shown that minor amounts of cellulose from different sources positively affect nutrient retention, decrease serum cholesterol levels, and alter the lipid profile in the liver and adipose tissue of broilers (Akiba & Matsumoto, 1978,1982Sarikhan et al, 2009;Jiménez-Moreno et al, 2010;Safaa et al, 2014).…”