Mitigation of mycotoxin residues and activation of endogenous stem cells in broiler chickens using a toxin binder: Implications for meat safety and performance enhancement.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed, particularly with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA), poses significant threats to broiler health, meat quality, and consumer safety. Toxin binders are commonly used to mitigate these effects; however, their impact on endogenous stem cell activity and overall broiler performance remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial toxin binder in reducing AFB1 and OTA residues in broiler meat, inducing endogenous stem cell production, and improving growth and feed performance indices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to four groups: Negative control (C-), positive control with mycotoxin-contaminated feed (C+), treatment 1 (T1: 1.1 g/kg binder), and treatment 2 (T2: 1.6 g/kg binder). Broilers were fed for 35 days. AFB1 and OTA levels in pectoral muscles were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography, while endogenous stem cell markers (CD34+, CD45+, CD105-) in spleen tissue were assessed through flow cytometry. Growth parameters, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and performance index were also evaluated.

RESULTS

AFB1 and OTA residues were significantly reduced in T1 and T2 compared to C+ (p < 0.05), with T2 showing the lowest levels (0.0023 μg/mL and 0.073 μg/mL, respectively). Flow cytometry revealed that T2 significantly induced endogenous stem cells (35.62% ± 2.16) compared to all other groups. The highest average daily growth occurred in T1 (68.78 ± 4.78 g/day), while the best FCR (1.38 ± 0.079) and performance index (386.2 ± 14.34) were also recorded in T1. No mortality occurred in any group.

CONCLUSION

Administering a toxin binder at 1.6 g/kg effectively reduced AFB1 and OTA residues and significantly activated endogenous stem cells, suggesting a protective and regenerative effect. Meanwhile, a dose of 1.1 g/kg yielded optimal growth performance and feed efficiency. These findings support the dual functional role of toxin binders in enhancing broiler meat safety and physiological resilience.