The use of feed additives to reduce the effects of aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol on pig growth, organ health and immune status during chronic exposure.

Alexandra C Weaver,Teena F Middleton,Yong B Kim,Sung Woo Kim,Anna L P De Souza,Jeff A Hansen,M Todd See

doi:10.3390/toxins5071261

Abstract

Three feed additives were tested to improve the growth and health of pigs chronically challenged with aflatoxin (AF) and deoxynivalenol (DON). Gilts (n = 225, 8.8 ± 0.4 kg) were allotted to five treatments: CON (uncontaminated control); MT (contaminated with 150 µg/kg AF and 1100 µg/kg DON); A (MT + a clay additive); B (MT + a clay and dried yeast additive); and C (MT + a clay and yeast culture additive). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake (ADFI) were recorded for 42 days, blood collected for immune analysis and tissue samples to measure damage. Feeding mycotoxins tended to decrease ADG and altered the immune system through a tendency to increase monocytes and immunoglobulins. Mycotoxins caused tissue damage in the form of liver bile ductule hyperplasia and karyomegaly. The additives in diets A and B reduced mycotoxin effects on the immune system and the liver and showed some ability to improve growth. The diet C additive played a role in reducing liver damage. Collectively, we conclude that AF and DON can be harmful to the growth and health of pigs consuming mycotoxins chronically. The selected feed additives improved pig health and may play a role in pig growth.

Highlights

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi commonly found on grains, which can cause severe impacts on animal health and performance [1]
Previous research has shown the benefits of montmorillonite clay to reduce multi-organ toxicities in swine diets containing 1300 μg/kg zearalenone [57]; our current research shows that the additive in B composed of clay and dried yeast may be helpful at reducing damages to organs during a mycotoxin challenge
Did impact growth performance, where Average daily gain (ADG) was reduced by 10.8%, caused some alterations to the immune system and resulted in damage to internal organs

Summary

Introduction

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi commonly found on grains, which can cause severe impacts on animal health and performance [1]. It is estimated that 25% of the world’s crops are contaminated to some extent by mycotoxins, and a survey from the NC Cooperative Extension Service found that 17% of corn tested was contaminated with levels higher than 20 μg/kg AF, and over 60% of corn contained DON [3,4,5]. As a result of the high contamination of corn by these mycotoxins, pigs may consume grains contaminated with AF or DON above the USA FDA action level of 20 μg/kg to 200 μg/kg AF and advisory level of 1000 μg/kg DON for pigs [6]. These mycotoxin may act synergistically to further the negative effects caused to animals [11,12]

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