Effects of dietary inclusion of commercial toxin binders and prebiotics on performance and immune responses of broiler chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated diets

D Mohseni Soltani,H Aghdam Shahryar,S.A Hosseini,A Aghashahi,Y Ebrahimnezhad

doi:10.4314/sajas.v49i2.12

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the dietary inclusion of commercial toxin binders (CTs) and prebiotics on growth performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology and blood variables of broiler chicks fed with aflatoxin and non-aflatoxin-contaminated diets. Six hundred one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, initial weight of 42 ± 3 g, were used in 10 treatments with six replications (n = 10 birds). ASRI1 and ASRI2 commercial toxin binders and lactose prebiotic were included in their diets. Experimental diets included: 1) basal diet without aflatoxin and additives (NC); 2) basal diet containing aflatoxin (PC); 3) NC diet containing ARSI1; 4) NC diet containing ARSI2; 5) NC diet containing prebiotics; 6) PC diet containing ARSI1; 7) PC diet containing ARSI2; 8) PC diet containing prebiotics; 9) PC diet containing ARSI1+prebiotics; and 10) PC diet containing ARSI2+prebiotics. Growth performance, humoral and cellular immune responses, jejunal morphology and some blood variables were assessed. Results showed that broiler chicks fed with a PC diet showed a higher feed conversion ratio and lower body weight in the grower and finisher periods. Broiler chicks fed with PC diets showed lower immunoglobulin G and M and also cellular immunities compared to the NC diet. The PC group also showed lower values for villus length, villus width and crypt depth, and higher values for liver enzyme activities compared to the PC diet. However, dietary inclusion of prebiotics and CTs, in single and combined form, improved growth performance in grower and finisher periods, cellular and humoral immunities, intestinal morphology and the serum concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose and liver enzyme activities of broiler chicks fed with aflatoxin. Keywords: Aflatoxin, ASRI1 toxin binder, broiler chicks, growth performance, humoral immunity

Highlights

Mycotoxins are known as fungi toxic metabolites and fungi found in agricultural products (Abdallah et al, 2015; Bhatti et al, 2016)
Considering the adverse effects of aflatoxins on growth performance, immunity and intestine morphology and the positive effects of prebiotics and toxin binders on growth and immunity, this study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the combined dietary inclusion of commercial toxin binders and their effect on the yeast cell wall, and the impact of lactose prebiotics on growth performance immune responses, intestinal morphology and certain blood biochemical variables of broiler chicks fed with aflatoxin and non-aflatoxin-contaminated feedstuffs
Dietary inclusion of prebiotics and commercial toxin binders could significantly alleviate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on performance during grower and finisher periods (P

Summary

Introduction

Mycotoxins are known as fungi toxic metabolites and fungi found in agricultural products (Abdallah et al, 2015; Bhatti et al, 2016). Mycotoxins have adverse effects on animal and human health (Khan et al, 2017). The primary function of the gut ecosystem is the digestion of feed, and it acts as a defense against contaminants which can influence growth and immunity in animals (El Miniawy et al, 2014; Marin &Taranu, 2015). It has been reported as a 21% reduction in body weight of broilers fed with 300 μg/kg AFB1 in their diet (Raju & Devegowda, 2002). Aflatoxin in the diet alters the level of the serum biochemical parameters in animals, indicating that these parameters can be considered a major cause of aflatoxicosis (Basmacioglu et al, 2005). Pelicano et al (2005) have reported that pathogens disrupt the normal microflora and intestinal epithelium, which

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