Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies on the effects of mycotoxins have solely focused on their biochemical profiles or products in dairy ruminants. Changes in metabolism that occur after exposure to mycotoxins, as well as biochemical changes, have not been explored.MethodsWe measured the biochemical and metabolic changes in dairy cows after exposure to mycotoxins using biochemical analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance. Twenty-four dairy cows were randomly assigned to three different treatment groups. Control cows received diets with 2 kg uncontaminated cottonseed. Cows in the 50% replacement group received the same diet as the control group, but with 1 kg of uncontaminated cottonseed and 1 kg of cottonseed contaminated with mycotoxins. Cows in the 100% replacement group received the same diet as the control, but with 2 kg contaminated cottonseed.ResultsThe results showed that serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and total antioxidant capacities were significantly affected by cottonseed contaminated with mycotoxins. There were also significant differences in isovalerate and NH3-N levels, and significant differences in the eight plasma metabolites among the three groups. These metabolites are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism pathways. Therefore, the results suggest that amino acid metabolism pathways may be affected by mycotoxins exposure.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced mainly by pathogenic molds that infect plants or crops, and by fungi in the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium (Fink-Gremmels, 2008)
There was a significant difference in GGT between the control group and the 50% replacement group (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference in GGT between the control group and the 100% replacement group
We found that mycotoxins significantly increased (P < 0.05) the rumen NH3-N concentration in the 100% replacement group but not in the 50% replacement group (Fig. 1A)
Summary
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced mainly by pathogenic molds that infect plants or crops, and by fungi in the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium (Fink-Gremmels, 2008). Previous studies focused on investigating basic blood biochemical parameters and animal performance suggest that dairy cows are more unresponsive to mycotoxins than monogastric livestock because mycotoxins are readily degraded by rumen microbes (Dänicke et al, 2010; Pier, 1992; Santos & Fink-Gremmels, 2014). This was supported by the result that milk production tended not to decrease in lactating ewes fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (Battacone et al, 2009). The results suggest that amino acid metabolism pathways may be affected by mycotoxins exposure
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