The insensitive mechanism of poultry to zearalenone: A review

Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most common contaminating mycotoxins and is mainly produced by Fusarium graminearum . ZEN and its metabolites can interfere with estrogen function and affect animals' reproductive ability. Pigs are most susceptible to ZEN, and ZEN is less harmful to poultry than to pigs. The exact mechanism for the difference in susceptibility remains unclear. In this review, we summarized some possible reasons for the relative insensitivity of poultry to ZEN, such as the lower total amount of α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) and the α-ZOL-to-β-ZOL ratio which reduce the toxicity of ZEN to poultry. The faster hepatic and enteric circulation, and excretion capacity in poultry can excrete more ZEN and its metabolites. There are other possible factors such as the transformation of intestinal microorganisms, differences in hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases' activity, high estrogen levels, and low estrogen receptors affinity which can also cause poultry to be relatively insensitive to ZEN. In this review, we summarized the hazards, pollution status, metabolic pathways, and some measures to mitigate ZEN's harmfulness. Specifically, we discussed the possible mechanisms of low reproductive toxicity by ZEN in poultry.

Toxicity of zearalenone and its nutritional intervention by natural products

“…26,27 In the past decades, many studies have been carried out on the possible toxic effects of ZEN on the body and its mechanisms of action. [28][29][30][31] At the same time, there are increasingly more studies on natural compounds protecting the body against ZEN through dietary intervention. [32][33][34] Based on the current research, this paper reviews the existence of ZEN in different countries and summarizes the various toxic effects of ZEN and its mechanisms.…”

Transcriptomics Reveals the Effect of Thymol on the Growth and Toxin Production of Fusarium graminearum

“…Finished feeds have high contamination rates and are often co-contaminated with multiple mycotoxins [5]. Common mycotoxins include aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) [6,7] and zearalenone (ZEN) [8], but deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetyl-derivatives (3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON) produced by F. graminearum are particularly concerning [9]. DON often contaminates wheat, barley, and oats.…”

Effects of Zearalenone on Production Performance, Egg Quality, Ovarian Function and Gut Microbiota of Laying Hens

“…The adverse consequences of dietary ZEN consumption by pigs, cattle, sheep, and broilers have been extensively reported [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Poultry is more tolerant to ZEN, comparing to pigs, which may be related to the low absorption rate of ZEN, the rapid elimination of metabolites and the high proportion of β-ZOL produced by the liver [ 17 ]. But there are still limitations in reporting the effects on reproductive performance, and egg quality of laying hens.…”