Mycotoxins Influence on Cows Homeostasis Under Intensive Animal Husbandry Conditions

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of mycotoxins on the biochemical parameters of blood and milk in cows under intensive livestock farming conditions. When conducting studies of feed for mycotoxins, it was revealed that at complex № 1 of the OJSC Lednevo breeding farm in the Vladimirov Region, contamination of feed with fungi was higher than at complex № 2. The difference in DON was (4.615 ± 0.088 versus 2.04 ± 0.072 ng/kg). A retrospective analysis of the climatic conditions of the region during the growing period of feed crops showed that the high degree of contamination of feed was possibly associated with weather conditions that contributed to the growth of mold and the formation of mycotoxins. In cows fed diets more contaminated with zearalenone and aflatoxins, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Liver damage in cows may occur due to exposure to mycotoxins, as evidenced by elevated liver enzymes. The protein level results showed significant variability at (p < 0.05) in the group fed the high DON diet. This may be due to inhibition of protein synthesis at the cellular level and therefore preferentially damage rapidly proliferating cells of the immune system. This inhibition may not be the main mechanism of their immunotoxic effects; but may have a selective effect on different subpopulations of lymphocytes. Evaluation of coagulation tests in cows revealed their variability. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly higher in cows receiving feed with a higher content; the difference was 6.3 % (p ≤ 0.01). An increase in APTT values (prolongation) indicates hypocoagulation. Thus, in the group of animals that received feed with a significant content of mycotoxins, an increase in prothrombin and thrombin time and a decrease in the amount of fibrinogen were noted. The use of diets unbalanced in their component composition with insufficient feed quality and a high content of mycotoxins contributes to the development of a pathological condition of the liver in cows, leading to morphofunctional changes in the organ and disorders of coagulation hemostasis.