Saccharomyces cerevisiae, bentonite, and kaolin as adsorbents for reducing the adverse impacts of mycotoxin contaminated feed on broiler histopathology and hemato-biochemical changes

Abstract

Background and Aim: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, bentonite and kaolin were used to reduce the adverse effects of mold-contaminated diet on broilers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of S. cerevisiae, bentonite, and kaolin in reducing the adverse effects of mold (fungal) contaminated diet on broilers. Specifically, we investigated the histopathological, hematological, and serum biochemical changes associated with broilers fed mold-contaminated diets supplemented with these three adsorbents. We also isolated and identified the common fungal contaminants in the poultry feeds as well as the mycotoxins they produced. Materials and Methods: Hundred broilers (3-weeks-old) were randomly grouped into five dietary treatments, basal feed (negative control), feed contaminated with mold, mold-contaminated feed+S. cerevisiae, mold-contaminated feed+bentonite, and mold-contaminated feed+kaolin. The fungal contaminants in the feeds were isolated and molecularly identified while the mycotoxins in the feed where analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Blood samples of birds from each group were analyzed for hematology and serum biochemistry. The liver, spleen, kidney, and bursa of Fabricius of the birds were excised and analyzed for histopathological changes. Results: The most common fungal contaminants in the feeds were Penicillium (33.3%) species, followed by Aspergillus species (22.2%). The mold-contaminated feed had the highest number of fungal contaminants, 55.6%, while the negative control (basal feed group) had none. Total aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol were high in the mold-contaminated feed (53.272 μg/kg and 634.5 μg kg, respectively), but these were reduced by the addition of adsorbents to the feed. The birds fed mold-contaminated feed had significantly (p<0.05) reduced red blood cell count counts, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin but increased white blood cell count compared to the negative control. Liver enzyme activity (alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) and cholesterol concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) in the group fed mold-contaminated feed while the serum albumin and total protein decreased significantly (p<0.05) in comparison with the negative control. Adverse histopathological changes were observed in the liver, kidney, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius in the group fed mold-contaminated feed. Addition of S. cerevisiae, bentonite or kaolin in the mold-contaminated feed ameliorated these toxic effects. Conclusion: The observed histopathological lesions were consistent with mycotoxicosis in birds and were mild in the adsorbent treated groups. Kaolin had a higher protective effect against mycotoxicosis than the two other adsorbents.

Reduction of the Adverse Impacts of Fungal Mycotoxin on Proximate Composition of Feed and Growth Performance in Broilers by Combined Adsorbents

“…Furthermore, high concentration of AF in broiler feeds has been reported to repress feed intake [ 2 ]. Birds fed aflatoxin-contaminated diets have been shown to suffer from lower feed consumption rate, reduced weight gain, increased mortality, low egg production, impaired resistance to infections and induced pathological damage to the immune-related organs [ 2 , 26 ]. Birds fed aflatoxin-contaminated feeds were found to have reduced body weight due to poor feed conversion rate [ 27 ].…”

“…S. cerevisiae and certain bacteria act as a sequestering agent in the gastrointestinal tract of animals through the formation of mycotoxin-microorganism complex [ 31 ]. Bentonite clay has a structural composition that gives a large surface area and this has made it an excellent candidate for AF decontamination in poultry feeds [ 26 ]. Kaolin clay is formed through intensive weathering of rocks rich in feldspar (granite, arkose, certain types of orthogneisses and migmatites) and it has a very high adsorbent capability.…”

“…Kaolin feed additive has the ability to improve feed conversion ratio of many livestock species due to their adsorption potential of many mycotoxins [ 32 ]. Our previous findings using single adsorbents ( S. cerevisiae , kaolin and bentonite) showed that kaolin had a more reducing effect against the mold/mycotoxin induced mycotoxicosis in broilers, followed by bentonite and S. cerevisiae [ 26 ]. From our findings, DON was reduced from 634.5 to 251 μg/kg by kaolin adsorbent while total AF (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) in the feed was reduced from 53.272 to 18.154 μg/kg [ 26 ].…”

“…Our previous findings using single adsorbents ( S. cerevisiae , kaolin and bentonite) showed that kaolin had a more reducing effect against the mold/mycotoxin induced mycotoxicosis in broilers, followed by bentonite and S. cerevisiae [ 26 ]. From our findings, DON was reduced from 634.5 to 251 μg/kg by kaolin adsorbent while total AF (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) in the feed was reduced from 53.272 to 18.154 μg/kg [ 26 ]. The same trend was observed for bentonite and S. cerevisiae in mycotoxin reduction.…”

“…Furthermore, no study has investigated the synergistic interaction of these adsorbents ( S. cerevisiae , kaolin and bentonite) in reducing the adverse effect of mycotoxin-containing feed on nutrient digestibility in broilers. Additionally, extensive studies have been done on ochratoxin A (OTA) and other mycotoxins such as AFs, trichothecenes and DON in poultry feeds [ 10 , 11 , 17 , 26 ]. Not much is known about the level of contamination of the poultry feeds in the tropics by ochratoxin B (OTB).…”