AI Insight
This study examined the effects of a complex mycotoxin detoxifier (CMD) containing sodium bentonite, sepiolite, yeast cell wall, and β-glucans on broiler chickens fed diets contaminated with multiple mycotoxins (aflatoxin, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone). While mycotoxin exposure caused only temporary growth performance issues in the first 10 days, it significantly impaired immune response (reduced Newcastle disease antibody titers) and liver health (increased fatty liver and inflammation). CMD supplementation at 1.0 kg/ton in starter feed and 0.5 kg/ton in finisher feed effectively restored immune function, increased anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and reduced liver damage.
Why it matters
Mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed is a widespread agricultural problem that can compromise bird health and economic productivity. This research demonstrates that specific detoxifier blends can mitigate mycotoxin-related immune suppression and liver damage in commercial broiler production, offering a practical intervention strategy for the poultry industry.
Understand the Science
by Nampetch Puengpong, Thaweesak Songserm, Konkawat Rassmidatta, Joan Torrent, Alireza Khadem, Arnau Vidal, Christos Gougoulias, Nithikarn Chanaksorn, Kazeem D. Adeyemi, Yuwares Ruangpanit
This study investigated the effects of a complex mycotoxin detoxifier (CMD) on growth performance, liver health, inflammation, and redox status of broilers fed a diet contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. A total of 432 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to one of three treatments, with eight replicates per dietary group for 37 d. The treatment included: a basal diet without mycotoxin, positive control, PC; a basal diet contaminated with 80 ppb Aflatoxin + 900 ppb fumonisins + 30 ppb deoxynivalenol + 80 ppb Zearalenone, negative control, NC or NC supplemented with CMD (sodium bentonite, sepiolite, yeast cell wall, and β-glucans) at 1 and 0.5 kg/ton in the starter and finisher diet respectively. Compared with the PC and CMD groups, NC birds showed higher feed intake and poorer feed efficiency during days 1–10 (p < 0.05), although these differences were not observed thereafter. Newcastle disease antibody titer was reduced in NC birds but restored by CMD supplementation (p < 0.05). Birds receiving CMD also exhibited higher IL-10 concentrations than both PC and NC birds (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CMD supplementation reduced macroscopic fatty liver scores and liver inflammation (histopathological lesions) compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary exposure to multiple mycotoxins caused only transient impairment of growth performance but adversely affected immune response and liver health. Supplementation with CMD at 1.0 and 0.5 kg/ton during the starter and finisher phases, respectively, alleviated several of these adverse effects in broiler chickens.