Effects of Fusarium toxins on growth, humoral immune response and internal organs in weaner pigs, and the efficacy of apple pomace as an antidote

Abstract

A feeding trial using 220 weaner pigs which comprised two experimental series was conducted to investigate the effects of diets contaminated with the Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) and to test the hypothesis that apple pomace acts as an antidote to these mycotoxins. Two diets without contaminated wheat, containing either no pomace or 8% pomace, and two diets with naturally contaminated wheat (3.2 mg DON and 0.06 mg ZON, and 2.1 mg DON and 0.25 mg ZON per kg diet in series 1 and 2 respectively), containing either no pomace or 8% pomace were fed ad libitum for 5 weeks. Mycotoxin exposure lowered feed intake (p < 0.01) and growth (p = 0.05), and tended to decrease the energy conversion ratio (p = 0.06). Although the intake of apple pomace did not increase feed intake, it increased the growth rate (p = 0.04), mainly by restoring growth in the presence of mycotoxins (p = 0.08 for the interaction mycotoxin x pomace). In the first experimental series, the animals were immunized with a parvovirus vaccine. The percentage of seroconverting animals did not differ between the treatments (p = 0.56), which indicates that DON did not affect the humoral immune response. In the second experimental series, female piglets fed the contaminated diets had heavier uteri than piglets fed the uncontaminated diets (p < 0.01), regardless of pomace supplementation. The results show that pomace may alleviate the negative effect of DON on growth but does not counteract the hormonal effects of ZON.

The efficacy of anti-mycotoxin feed additives in preventing the adverse effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on performance, intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility and retention in weanling pigs

“…These results indicate a better G:F ratio in piglets fed the control or DON'PC diets compared with those on the other experimental diets. A decrease in G:F ratio has been previously observed for piglets fed a DON-contaminated diet (Rotter et al 1994;Swamy et al 2003;Gutzwiller et al 2007). The greater retention of Ca, or the absence of an effect for N and P deposition, when piglets were fed the DON-contaminated diet was associated with a reduction in the urinary excretion of N, P and Ca, except for piglets fed the DON' PC diet.…”

Comparative efficacy of agricultural by‐products in sequestering mycotoxins

“…In addition, this work shows that micronized fibres obtained from almond and artichoke by‐products can also act as broad‐spectrum mycotoxin adsorbents. Previous studies reported that micronized wheat fibres exhibited beneficial effects against OTA adsorption in rats, while apple pomace (rich in fibres and pectin) incorporated in DON‐contaminated feed attenuated the negative effects of this mycotoxins in pigs . Furthermore, water extract of artichoke showed significant protective effects against the growth inhibitory effect of OTA and associated pathomorphological changes in chicks .…”

“…Previous studies reported that micronized wheat fibres exhibited beneficial effects against OTA adsorption in rats, 18,19 while apple pomace (rich in fibres and pectin) incorporated in DON-contaminated feed attenuated the negative effects of this mycotoxins in pigs. 36 Furthermore, water extract of artichoke showed significant protective effects against the growth inhibitory effect of OTA and associated pathomorphological changes in chicks. 37 Interesting findings were also obtained from in vitro studies regarding humic acids, originating from natural decaying of organic plant materials.…”

An analysis of the phosphoproteome of immune cell lines exposed to the immunomodulatory mycotoxin deoxynivalenol

“…Animal studies have shown that DON may induce generalized GI tract toxicity, emetic effects and feed refusal [4][5][6]. Studies in animal models and immortalized cell lines have also shown that DON exposure modulates immune function by specifically influencing proinflammatory responses and white blood cell distribution and proliferation in several organs [7][8][9][10].…”