dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition and Health R&D Center Tulln, Technopark 1, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Toxins (Basel). 2024 Mar 25;16(4):167. doi: 10.3390/toxins16040167.
Broiler chickens in livestock production face numerous challenges that can impact their health and welfare, including mycotoxin contamination and heat stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the combined effects of two mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FBs), along with short-term heat stress conditions, on broiler gut health and endotoxin translocation. An experiment was conducted to assess the impacts of mycotoxin exposure on broilers, focusing on intestinal endotoxin activity, gene expression related to gut barrier function and inflammation, and the plasma concentration of the endotoxin marker 3-OH C14:0 either at thermoneutral conditions or short-term heat stress conditions. Independently of heat stress, broilers fed DON-contaminated diets exhibited reduced body weight gain during the starter phase (Day 1-12) compared to the control group, while broilers fed FB-contaminated diets experienced decreased body weight gain throughout the entire trial period (Day 1-24). Furthermore, under thermoneutral conditions, broilers fed DON-contaminated diets showed an increase in 3-OH C14:0 concentration in the plasma. Moreover, under heat stress conditions, the expression of genes related to gut barrier function (Claudin 5, Zonulin 1 and 2) and inflammation (Toll-like receptor 4, Interleukin-1 beta, Interleukin-6) was significantly affected by diets contaminated with mycotoxins, depending on the gut segment. This effect was particularly prominent in broilers fed diets contaminated with FBs. Notably, the plasma concentration of 3-OH C14:0 increased in broilers exposed to both DON- and FB-contaminated diets under heat stress conditions. These findings shed light on the intricate interactions between mycotoxins, heat stress, gut health, and endotoxin translocation in broiler chickens, highlighting the importance of understanding these interactions for the development of effective management strategies in livestock production to enhance broiler health and welfare.
在畜牧业生产中，肉鸡面临着许多挑战，这些挑战会影响它们的健康和福利，包括霉菌毒素污染和热应激。在这项研究中，我们旨在研究两种霉菌毒素（脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇（DON）和伏马菌素（FBs））以及短期热应激条件对肉鸡肠道健康和内毒素易位的综合影响。进行了一项实验来评估霉菌毒素暴露对肉鸡的影响，重点关注肠道内毒素活性、与肠道屏障功能和炎症相关的基因表达，以及内毒素标志物 3-OH C14:0 的血浆浓度，无论是在热中性条件下还是短期热应激条件下。独立于热应激，饲喂受 DON 污染日粮的肉鸡在育雏期（第 1-12 天）体重增加减少，而饲喂 FB 污染日粮的肉鸡在整个试验期（第 1-24 天）体重增加减少。此外，在热中性条件下，饲喂 DON 污染日粮的肉鸡血浆中 3-OH C14:0 浓度增加。此外，在热应激条件下，肠道屏障功能相关基因（Claudin 5、Zonulin 1 和 2）和炎症（Toll-like receptor 4、Interleukin-1 beta、Interleukin-6）的表达受到霉菌毒素污染日粮的影响，这取决于肠道段。这种影响在饲喂 FB 污染日粮的肉鸡中尤为明显。值得注意的是，在热应激条件下，饲喂 DON 和 FB 污染日粮的肉鸡血浆中 3-OH C14:0 浓度增加。这些发现揭示了霉菌毒素、热应激、肠道健康和内毒素易位在肉鸡中的复杂相互作用，强调了了解这些相互作用对于制定有效的畜牧业生产管理策略以提高肉鸡健康和福利的重要性。
