Abstract
ABSTRACT A trial was conducted to evaluate a feed additive containing epoxidase activity from a bacterium (Mycofix-S) as a potential protection against the adverse effects of 2.5 ppm dietary T-2 toxin in male growing broiler chickens. A total of 144 one-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were individually wing-banded and allotted into each of the four experimental groups. Group 1: negative control, no T-2 toxin or additive; group 2: Mycofix-S, 2.5 g/kg; group 3: positive control, 2.5 ppm T-2 toxin; group 4: 2.5 ppm T-2 toxin + 2.5 g/kg Mycofix-S. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 28 days (days 1 to 28 of age). Each experimental treatment was replicated 6 times, with 6 birds per replicate pen. Response variables included performance parameters, serum activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and amylase, relative weight of selected organs and histology of the upper digestive system. T-2 toxin at 2.5 ppm significantly (P = 0.016) decreased the 28-day body weight gain and cumulative feed intake without affecting feed conversion. The feed additive counteracted these adverse effects. Serum enzyme activities were not significantly (P>0.05) affected for the four experimental groups but when data from the groups receiving T-2 toxin was pooled and compared against the pooled data from groups without the toxin a significant decrease in amylase activity was observed in chickens receiving T-2 toxin. The histological examination of the upper digestive system revealed lesions in mouth, esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard and duodenum in the chickens fed T-2 toxin without the additive. Chickens fed T-2 toxin plus the additive showed lesions in the same tissues except in the duodenum. The results of the present study show that the addition of 2.5 g/kg of the feed additive tested protects against adverse effects on performance and also the integrity of the duodenal mucosa.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are frequent contaminants of human foods and animal feeds, produced by specific fungal strains
The results of the present study showed that growing broiler chickens can tolerate 2.5 ppm T2 toxin in their diet for 21 days without showing significant adverse effects on their health or performance but after 28 days of exposure, adverse effects on performance parameters are observed
This finding is in agreement with a previous study in which a feed additive containing epoxidase activity protected against the adverse effects of 2 ppm dietary T-2 toxin (Diaz et al, 2005)
Summary
Mycotoxins are frequent contaminants of human foods and animal feeds, produced by specific fungal strains. Mycotoxins are capable of affecting the health and performance of domestic animals, decrease the immune response and even cause death when their levels are high enough (Murugesan et al, 2015). The toxicology of trichothecenes for domestic species was reviewed by Eriksen and Pettersson (2004). The major effect of T-2 toxin in poultry is an inflammatory focal reaction in the oral cavity that progresses to necrosis and invasion of the normal microflora. Other effects of exposure to dietary T-2 toxin at levels between 1 and 4 ppm and different exposure times include decreased feed intake and decreased body weight gain (Diaz et al, 1994; Diaz, 2002; Diaz et al, 2005)
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