Subclinical Doses of Combined Fumonisins and Deoxynivalenol Predispose Clostridium perfringens–Inoculated Broilers to Necrotic Enteritis

Abstract

Fumonisins (FB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are mycotoxins which may predispose broiler chickens to necrotic enteritis (NE). The objective of this study was to identify the effects of subclinical doses of combined FB and DON on NE. A total of 480 day-old male broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups; 1) control group (basal diet + Clostridium perfringens); 2) necrotic enteritis group (basal diet + Eimeria maxima + C. perfringens); 3) FB + DON group (basal diet + 3 mg/kg FB + 4 mg/kg DON + C. perfringens); and 4) FB + DON + NE group (basal diet + 3 mg/kg FB + 4 mg/kg DON + E. maxima + C. perfringens). Birds in NE and FB + DON + NE groups received 2.5 × 103E. maxima on day 14. All birds were inoculated with C. perfringens on days 19, 20, and 21. On day 35, birds in the NE, FB + DON, and FB + DON + NE groups had 242, 84, and 339 g lower BWG and a 19-, 2-, and 22-point increase in FCR respectively, than in the control group. Subclinical doses of FB + DON increased (p < 0.05) the NE lesion scores compared to the control group on day 21. On day 21, birds in the NE, FB + DON, and FB + DON + NE groups had increased (p < 0.05) serum FITC-D, lower (p < 0.05) jejunal tight junction protein mRNA, and increased (p < 0.05) cecal tonsil IL-1 mRNA compared to control group. On day 21, birds in the NE group had decreased (p < 0.05) villi height to crypt depth ratio compared to the control group and the presence of FB + DON in NE-induced birds further decreased the villi height to crypt depth ratio. Birds in the NE, FB + DON, and FB + DON + NE groups had increased (p < 0.05) C. perfringens, lower (p < 0.05) Lactobacillus loads in the cecal content, and a lower (p < 0.05) CD8+: CD4+ cell ratio in the cecal tonsils compared to the control group. It can be concluded that subclinical doses of combined FB and DON predispose C. perfringens-inoculated birds to NE, and the presence of FB + DON in NE-induced birds exacerbated the severity of NE.

Subclinical doses of dietary fumonisins and deoxynivalenol cause cecal microbiota dysbiosis in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

“…The most frequent mycotoxins found in poultry feed ingredients are FUM and DON ( Weaver et al, 2021 ). Recent research from our lab has demonstrated that broiler productivity and health are adversely impacted by exposure to combined subclinical doses of 3 mg/kg FUM and 4 mg/kg DON ( Shanmugasundaram et al, 2022 ). Because FUM and DON are not efficiently absorbed from the intestine, gut epithelial cells are typically exposed to the ingested toxins at the highest concentration ( Grenier et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Two strains of Fusarium , F. graminearum strain PH-1 and F. verticillioides strain M3125, were cultured for DON and FB production, respectively, as mentioned previously ( Shanmugasundaram et al, 2022 ). A non-medicated corn–soybean meal-based mash diet was used as a basal diet ( Supplementary Table 1 ).…”

“…We earlier reported that continuous exposure to 3 mg/kg of FUM and 4 mg/kg of DON, at doses below FDA tolerance concentrations, induces subclinical necrotic enteritis in chickens even in the absence of coccidial-induced gut damage but in the presence of C. perfringens inoculation. FUM and DON-induced losses in gut integrity and the presence of C. perfringens resulted in subclinical necrotic enteritis ( Shanmugasundaram et al, 2022 ). The objective of this study was to identify if subclinical doses of combined FUM and DON alter cecal microbial composition or their microbial functions and the SCFA profile in broiler chickens challenged with C. perfringens , and thereby explain the occurrence of subclinical necrotic enteritis in birds exposed to FUM and DON.…”

Effect of arginine supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal health, and immune responses of broilers during necrotic enteritis challenge

“…Gut permeability was assessed using the FITC-d assay as described earlier ( Shanmugasundaram et al, 2022 ). Briefly, on d 21 and 28 posthatch, one bird was randomly selected from each pen and orally gavaged with 1 mL (2.2 mg/mL) fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d, MW 4000, Sigma-Aldrich St. Louis, MO) solution to evaluate the intestinal permeability.…”

MicroRNAs: exploring their role in farm animal disease and mycotoxin challenges

“…Despite the establishment of guidelines by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the permissible levels of major mycotoxins in animal feed, the presence of subclinical doses of mycotoxins, either alone or in combination, has been shown to induce metabolic and immunologic disturbances ( 204 ). The presence of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals compromises gut health and integrity ( 205 ), and their presence will increase the severity of diseases such as coccidiosis ( 206 ) and necrotic enteritis ( 204 ) and increase the susceptibility to bacterial diseases like salmonellosis in poultry ( 207 ), leading to substantial economic losses ( 208 , 209 ). The current challenge lies in the lack of biomarkers for farm animals that can accurately quantify mycotoxin exposure and toxicity in real time.…”