Effects of Modified Maifanite on Zearalenone Toxicity in Female Weaner Pigs

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to investigate alleviative effects of modified maifanite (MMF) on zearalenone (ZEN) toxicity in female weaner pigs. In this experiment, 32 female weaner pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Large white, 10.50±0.07 kg) were divided into 4 groups (8 pigs/group): control group (0.02 mg/kg ZEN); ZEN-treated group (1.11 mg/kg ZEN); MMF-treated group (1% MMF); ZEN+MMF treated group (1.11 mg/kg ZEN and 1% MMF), The trial period lasted for 28 d. Growth performance, vulva size, genital organs, antioxidant enzyme activities, serum metabolites and ZEN residues in female weaner pigs were determined. The results showed that the treatments had no effect on growth performance and length and width of the vulva. However, vulva area (P=0.038) and progesterone (P=0.022) were affected by the ZEN×MMF interaction. Treatment with ZEN resulted in a significant increase of the genital organ weight (P=0.002) and decrease of serum superoxide dismutase (P=0.017) activity. Feeding of the ZEN diet decreased the number of red blood cells (P=0.009) and platelets (P=0.002). The MMF reduced methane dicarboxylic aldehyde concentration when fed with ZEN diet but not when fed with the basal diet (ZEN×MMF, P=0.018). In the liver, feeding of the ZEN diet with MMF reduced the levels of ZEN residues (P=0.003). Our findings suggest that the addition of MMF to ZEN diet resulted in partial restoration of antioxidant status and reduced ZEN levels in the liver.