Effects of aflatoxin B(1) and fumonisin B(1) on blood biochemical parameters in broilers.

Eliana N C Tessari,David R Ledoux,Carlos A F Oliveira,George E Rottinghaus,Ana Lúcia S P Cardoso,Estela Kobashigawa

doi:10.3390/toxins2040453

Eliana N C Tessari, David R Ledoux + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins2040453

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Abstract

The individual and combined effects of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) on liver pathology, serum levels of aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and plasma total protein (TP) of broilers were evaluated from 8 to 41 days of age. Dietary treatments included a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three levels of AFB1 (0, 50 and 200 μg AFB1/kg), and three levels of FB1 (0, 50 and 200 mg FB1/kg). At 33 days post feeding, with the exception of birds fed 50 mg FB1 only, concentrations of AST were higher (p < 0.05) in all other treatment groups when compared with controls. Plasma TP was lower (p < 0.05) at six days post feeding in groups fed 200 μg AFB1/kg alone or in combination with FB1. At day 33 days post feeding, with the exception of birds fed the highest combination of AFB1 and FB1 which had higher plasma TP than control birds, plasma TP of birds fed other dietary treatments were similar to controls. Broilers receiving the highest levels of AFB1 and FB1 had bile duct proliferation and trabecular disorder in liver samples. AFB1 singly or in combination with FB at the levels studied, caused liver damage and an increase in serum levels of AST.

Highlights

Mycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites that are produced by fungi growing on food products, such as corn, peanut, and wheat, among others [1]
At day 33 post feeding, except for the group that received only 50 mg fumonisin B1 (FB1)/kg, significant increases (p < 0.05) in serum AST were observed in birds fed all other dietary treatments
The increase in AST levels was highest in groups fed only 200 μg aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)/kg and groups fed 50 μg AFB1/kg in combination with FB1

Summary

Introduction

Mycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites that are produced by fungi growing on food products, such as corn, peanut, and wheat, among others [1]. Aflatoxins affect energy, carbohydrates and lipids, nucleic acids and protein metabolism [5] Their biological effects include carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity and hepatotoxicity [6]. Aflatoxins are a frequent problem for poultry production resulting in poor bird performance [4], which is caused by several factors including reduced activity of pancreatic enzymes, decreased concentration of bile [6], increased incidence of leg problems, injury to the sciatic nerve [7], and antagonism in the metabolism of vitamins, proteins and amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates, and damage to DNA [6,8,9]. Fumonisins are secondary toxic metabolites produced by fungi belonging to the genus Fusarium, mainly the species Fusarium verticillioides [11].

Results and Discussion

Experimental Section

Conclusions