Modulation of intestinal functions following mycotoxin ingestion: meta-analysis of published experiments in animals

Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract supplementation mitigated the negative effects of prolonged low-dose exposure to Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Zearalenone (ZEN), common symbiotic mycotoxins found in mold-contaminated cereal feed, adversely affect broiler' health. Glycyrrhiza uralensis has various pharmacological effects including antibacterial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the long-term intake of low doses of DON and ZEN on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers, as well as the potential protective effect of supplementary Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract (GUE) in an 84-day feeding experiment. A total of 315 one-day-old male Liangfeng broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments: basal diet (CON), MOL diet (where 5% of corn in the basal diet was replaced with an equal amount of naturally moldy corn) containing DON and ZEN at 1.25 and 1.29 mg/kg, and MGUE diet supplemented with 0.1% GUE in the MOL diet. The MOL diet reduced the body weight (BW) of broilers at 56 and 84 day, body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) aged 1-56 and 1-84 days, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) aged 1-84 days, as well as villus height (VH) and the villus/crypt (V/C) ratio, SOD and GSH-Px activities, and the expression of claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1, while increasing MDA level, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ in the jejunum of broilers. Additionally, MOL diet decreased the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and abundances of Lactobacillus (L.gallinarum and L.crispatus), and B.vulgatus, while increasing Bacteroides (B.fragilis and B.dore), Helicobacter (H.pullorum), and Escherichia (E.coli) in the ceca. In contrast, MGUE diet improved growth performance and returned it to a level comparable to that of the CON diet, increased VH and V/C ratio, SOD and GSH-Px activity, claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 expression, while reducing MDA level, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ in the jejunum. Moreover, MGUE diet had a greater F/B ratio and abundance of Lactobacillus (L.gallinarum and L.crispatus) and B.vulgatus, while reducing Bacteroides (B.fragilis and B.dorei), Helicobacter (H.pullorum) and Escherichia (E.coli) in cecum. In conclusion, the long-term consumption of a low-dose DON-ZEN contaminated diet decreases growth performance and disrupts intestinal health and microbiota balance in broilers; however, dietary supplementation with GUE effectively mitigates the damage caused by DON-ZEN contamination.

Emerging threat to antibiotic resistance: Impact of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol on gut microbiota and clonal expansion of extensively drug-resistant enterococci

Mycotoxins, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are significant environmental pollutants that pose considerable threats to environmental health and human safety through the food chain. This study is the first to investigate the impact of deoxynivalenol (DON), the most common mycotoxin, on antibiotic resistance dynamics in gut microbiota, demonstrating that DON exposure significantly selects for ARB and ARGs. Results indicated that 80.69 % of the ARGs with the highest increase in the DON group were exclusive to gram-positive bacteria, particularly those related to daptomycin. DON exposure enhanced the expression of virulence factors in gram-positive bacteria and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and membrane permeability, compromising bacterial integrity and amplifying resistance mechanisms. DON also boosted the diversity and co-occurrence of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), potentially facilitating the horizontal transfer of resistance traits. Notably, the dominant bacterial species isolated from broiler gut microbiota was identified as Enterococcus faecalis, which exhibited clonal expansion of sequence type ST123. This ST123 clone accounted for 86 % of the DON group and was associated with an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) phenotype, showing resistance levels exceeding 128 μg/mL to last-resort antibiotics such as daptomycin, vancomycin, and linezolid. Additionally, DON upregulated the expression of critical daptomycin resistance genes (liaR, walK, liaS, mprF, and cls) in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates. This study highlights the microbiological and environmental hazards that mycotoxins pose to the antibiotic resistance crisis.

Aflatoxin B1-Induced Apoptosis in Donkey Kidney via EndoG-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a prevalent environmental and forage contaminant that poses significant health risks to both humans and livestock due to its toxic effects on various organs and systems. Among its toxicological effects, nephrotoxicity is a hallmark of AFB1 exposure. However, the precise mechanisms underlying AFB1-induced kidney damage in donkeys remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we established a donkey model exposed to AFB1 by administering a diet supplemented with 1 mg AFB1/kg for 30 days. Kidney apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL staining, while gene expression and protein levels of Endonuclease G (EndoG), as well as genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis, were quantified by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Our findings indicate that AFB1 exposure resulted in significant kidney injury, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Notably, AFB1 exposure upregulated the expression of EndoG and promoted its translocation to the ER, which subsequently induced ER stress and activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that AFB1-induced kidney damage in donkeys is mediated through the oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways, primarily involving the EndoG-IRE1/ATF6-CHOP signaling axis.

Development of an ex vivo model to assess the impact of fumonisin B1 on swine intestinal morphology

This study was conducted to assess the effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) on the jejunum of pigs using a novel ex vivo model conducted in parallel with an in vivo trial. For the in vivo model, twelve male 28 to 70-days-old pigs were subjected to two treatments of six animals each: the control group, fed a basal diet (BD), and the FB1 group, fed the BD + 50 mg/kg FB1. At 70 days, the animals were slaughtered and one jejunal sample was collected from each pig for further histopathological analyses. Other four male pigs from the in vivo control treatment were slaughtered at 70 days for the ex vivo model. Four jejunal explants were collected from each pig, totaling 16 intestinal explants, which were subjected to two treatments, with 8 explants each, using an Ussing Chamber (UC) system: the control group, subjected to buffer solution (BS), and the FB1 group, subjected to BS + 50 mg/L FB1. Samples from in vivo and ex vivo models were analyzed for histopathological parameters and subjective intestinal assessments. The FB1 group presented lower (P < 0.05) villi height than the control group in both in vivo and ex vivo. A decrease (P < 0.05) in the villi number, crypt depth, enterocyte height and enterocyte nucleus size was also observed in the FB1 group ex vivo, with a higher severity score of lymphatic vessels dilation than the control (P = 0.0459). The FB1 group also tended to increase the goblet cells count (P = 0.0736) ex vivo as well as to decrease the crypt width (P = 0.0638) in vivo. The ex vivo model exhibited similar mean values and statistical responses to those observed in vivo, demonstrating its potential as an alternative approach for assessing the effects of mycotoxins in a reduced number of animals.

Selenomethionine alleviates T-2 toxin-induced articular chondrocyte ferroptosis via the system Xc-/GSH/GPX4 axis

T-2 toxin can induce bone and cartilage development disorder, and oxidative stress plays an important role in it. It is well known that selenomethionine (Se-Met) has antioxidative stress properties and promotes the repair of cartilage lesion, but it remains unclear whether Se-Met can relieve damaged cartilage exposure to T-2 toxin. Here, the oxidative stress and ferroptosis of chondrocytes exposure to T-2 toxin were observed. Mechanistically, T-2 toxin increased ROS, lipid ROS, MDA and Fe2+ contents in chondrocytes, decreased GSH and GPX4 activity, and inhibited the system Xc-/GSH/GPX4 antioxidant axis. In addition, the mitochondria of chondrocytes shrunk and the mitochondrial crest decreased or disappeared. However, Fer-1 (Ferrostatin-1) inhibited ferroptosis induced by T-2 toxin in chondrocytes. The Se-Met alleviated lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and damaged mitochondrial in T-2 toxin-infected chondrocytes, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and activated the system Xc-/GSH/GPX4 axis, thereby antagonizing ferroptosis of chondrocytes and alleviating articular cartilage damage. In conclusion, our findings highlight the essentiality of ferroptosis in chondrocyte caused by T-2 toxin, elucidate how Se-Met offers protection against this injury and provide research evidence for the drug treatment target of Kashin-Beck disease.

Hydroalcoholic Extract of Saffron Petals, Yeast Cell Wall and Bentonite Reduce Contamination Effects With Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in Exposed Broilers

BACKGROUND

Contamination is not surprising in light of the ubiquitous nature of the fungi that produce aflatoxin and ochratoxin A. The presence of these toxins in the broiler diet leads to increased losses, an increased feed conversion ratio, and decreased productivity.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the use of hydroalcoholic extracts of saffron petals, yeast cell walls and bentonite in the diets of broiler chickens contaminated with aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A.

METHODS

In a completely randomised design, 350 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were allocated into seven treatment groups and five replications: a negative control diet (without toxins or additives), a positive control diet (2.5 mg/kg aflatoxin + 2 mg/kg ochratoxin A (mg/kg) and diets containing toxins with a commercial toxin binder or yeast cell wall, processed bentonite or saffron petal extract alone or together.

RESULTS

Compared with those in the positive control treatment, the relative weights of the carcasses, breasts and drumsticks improved with the addition of toxic adsorbent compounds (p < 0.05). Compared with the control treatment, the inclusion of a toxin binder had a significant effect on the concentration of glucose (p < 0.05). The concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase enzymes in the yeast cell wall + processed bentonite + saffron petal extract treatment were lower than those in the other treatments (p < 0.05). Toxin adsorbent compounds significantly improved the morphology of the small intestine in chickens fed contaminated diets (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The inclusion of toxic adsorbent compounds can reduce the negative effects caused by the presence of Aflatoxin B1 and Ocratoxin A. Saffron petal extract can potentially be used to modulate diets contaminated with Aflatoxin B1 and Ocratoxin A, which is best achieved with 750 mg/kg saffron petal extract along with 0.1% yeast cell wall extract and 1% processed bentonite.

Bacillus licheniformis as a protective agent in broiler chicken concurrently exposed to mycotoxins and necrotic enteritis: Toxicopathological and hematobiochemical perspectives

Mycotoxins negatively impact intestinal cell viability, leading to the depletion of beneficial bacteria and rendering birds susceptible to intestinal infections such as necrotic enteritis (NE). Furthermore, they impair the effective digestion and absorption of nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Bacillus licheniformis supplementation on broiler birds exposed to mycotoxins and subsequent necrotic enteritis infection. A total of 280 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into eight groups and subjected to B. licheniformis supplementation (1 × 106 CFU/kg of feed) and mycotoxin exposure (aflatoxin and ochratoxin A, each at 150 ppb). Clostridium perfringens (3 × 1010 CFU/ml) was later administered to induce necrotic enteritis. This study evaluated body weight, feed intake, relative organ weights, hematological and serum biochemical parameters and performed histopathological examinations of liver, kidney and intestine. All the obtained data was statistically analyzed (P ≤ 0.05). The results demonstrated that B. licheniformis supplementation reduced the susceptibility to necrotic enteritis in broilers initially exposed to mycotoxins. Body weight and feed intake were significantly decreased in groups challenged with mycotoxins and necrotic enteritis, both individually and concurrently, compared to the control group. Relative weights of the liver, kidney and intestine were significantly higher in treatment groups. Hematological analysis revealed significantly lower erythrogram parameters (TEC, Hb, and PCV) in birds fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed, with or without necrotic enteritis. Hepatic and renal biomarkers were significantly elevated, and serum protein levels (total protein, albumin) were significantly lower. In contrast, birds supplemented with B. licheniformis and challenged with either mycotoxins or NE showed no significant differences in body weight, feed intake, erythrogram and leucogram compared to the control group. However, B. licheniformis did not mitigate these effects when supplemented in group with concurrent challenge of mycotoxins and NE, however, intensity of changes was reduced. In conclusion, B. licheniformis supplementation effectively alleviates the pathological changes induced by mycotoxins and necrotic enteritis when presented individually but is not sufficiently effective against the combined challenge of mycotoxins and necrotic enteritis.

Exposure to Subclinical Doses of Fumonisins, Deoxynivalenol, and Zearalenone Affects Immune Response, Amino Acid Digestibility, and Intestinal Morphology in Broiler Chickens

Fusarium mycotoxins often co-occur in broiler feed, and their presence negatively impacts health even at subclinical concentrations, so there is a need to identify the concentrations of these toxins that do not adversely affect chickens health and performance. The study was conducted to evaluate the least toxic effects of combined mycotoxins fumonisins (FUM), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) on the production performance, immune response, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. A total of 960 one-day-old broilers were distributed into eight dietary treatments: T1 (Control); T2: 33.0 FUM + 3.0 DON + 0.8 ZEA; T3: 14.0 FUM + 3.5 DON + 0.7 ZEA; T4: 26.0 FUM + 1.0 DON + 0.2 ZEA; T5: 7.7 FUM + 0.4 DON + 0.1 ZEA; T6: 3.6 FUM + 2.5 DON + 0.9 ZEA; T7: 0.8 FUM + 1.0 DON + 0.3 ZEA; T8: 1.0 FUM + 0.5 DON + 0.1 ZEA, all in mg/kg diet. The results showed that exposure to higher mycotoxin concentrations, T2 and T3, had significantly reduced body weight gain (BWG) by 17% on d35 (p < 0.05). The T2, T3, and T4 groups had a significant decrease in villi length in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05) and disruption of tight junction proteins, occludin, and claudin-4 (p < 0.05). Higher mycotoxin groups T2 to T6 had a reduction in the digestibility of amino acids methionine (p < 0.05), aspartate (p < 0.05), and serine (p < 0.05); a reduction in CD4+, CD8+ T-cell populations (p < 0.05) and an increase in T regulatory cell percentages in the spleen (p < 0.05); a decrease in splenic macrophage nitric oxide production and total IgA production (p < 0.05); and upregulated cytochrome P450-1A1 and 1A4 gene expression (p < 0.05). Birds fed the lower mycotoxin concentration groups, T7 and T8, did not have a significant effect on performance, intestinal health, and immune responses, suggesting that these concentrations pose the least negative effects in broiler chickens. These findings are essential for developing acceptable thresholds for combined mycotoxin exposure and efficient feed management strategies to improve broiler performance.

Effects of deoxynivalenol contaminated corn distiller's dried grains with solubles on growth performance, body composition, immunological response, and gastrointestinal health in young pullets

Mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), are common contaminants in feed ingredients such as corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and pose significant risks to poultry health. This study investigated the effects of feeding naturally DON contaminated DDGS on growth performance, body composition, immunological response, and gastrointestinal health in young pullets. A total of 360, 4-week-old Hy-Line W36 pullets were randomly assigned to diets with increasing levels of naturally DON contaminated DDGS (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) over 28 days, resulting in dietary DON concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantification to 15.4 ppm. Diets with DON concentration exceeding 8.9 ppm, corresponding to 15% and 20% DDGS inclusion, resulted in significantly lower body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) from experimental day 14 to day 28 compared to DON concentration below 5.9 ppm (0, 5 and 10% DDGS groups; P = 0.024 and P = 0.007, respectively). Body composition analysis showed a higher tissue fat percentage in the 20% DDGS group (15.4 ppm DON) by day 28 compared to lower inclusion levels (P = 0.021). Immunologically, a significant increase in the CD4+:CD8+ ratio in spleen was observed in the 20% DDGS group compared to the 0% DDGS group (P = 0.013), whereas both 15 and 20% DDGS inclusion levels significantly increased the ratio in cecal tonsil (P < 0.001). Additionally, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) expression significantly increased in the cecal tonsil by day 28 with 15 and 20% DDGS inclusions (P = 0.002). Gut health was compromised as gut permeability increased linearly with increasing DDGS inclusion (linear, P = 0.043), aligning with significant alterations in the expression of the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN; P = 0.007). Antioxidant responses in the liver showed increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in early exposure (day 13, P = 0.038), followed by decreased SOD activity (P = 0.001) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (P < 0.001) by day 28. In conclusion, feeding DON-contaminated DDGS at higher inclusion levels (15% and 20%) with final diet DON concentrations exceeding 8.9 ppm over 28 days adversely affects growth performance, immune function, and gut integrity in young pullets.

Early Biomarkers for Detecting Subclinical Exposure to Fumonisin B1, Deoxynivalenol, and Zearalenone in Broiler Chickens

Identifying biomarkers of mycotoxin effects in chickens will provide an opportunity for early intervention to reduce the impact of mycotoxicosis. This study aimed to identify whether serum enzyme concentrations, gut integrity, and liver miRNAs can be potential biomarkers for fumonisin B1 (FB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) toxicity in broiler birds as early as 14 days after exposure. A total of 720 male broiler chicks were distributed to six treatment groups: T1: control group (basal diet), T2 (2 FB1 + 2.5 DON + 0.9 ZEA), T3 (5 FB1 + 0.4 DON + 0.1 ZEA), T4 (9 FB1 + 3.5 DON + 0.7 ZEA), T5 (17 FB1 + 1.0 DON + 0.2 ZEA), and T6 (21 FB1 + 3.0 DON + 1.0 ZEA), all in mg/kg diet. On d14, there were no significant differences in the body weight gain (BWG) of mycotoxin treatment groups when compared to the control (p > 0.05), whereas on d21, T6 birds showed significantly reduced BWG compared to the control (p < 0.05). On d14, birds in T6 showed significant upregulation of liver miRNAs, gga-let-7a-5p (14.17-fold), gga-miR-9-5p (7.05-fold), gga-miR-217-5p (16.87-fold), gga-miR-133a-3p (7.41-fold), and gga-miR-215-5p (6.93-fold) (p < 0.05) and elevated serum fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) levels compared to the control (p < 0.05). On d21, T2 to T6 birds exhibited reduced serum phosphorus, glucose, and potassium, while total protein, FITC-d, AST, and CK levels increased compared to control (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that serum FITC-d, AST, CK, and liver miRNAs could serve as biomarkers for detecting mycotoxin exposure in broiler chickens.

Deoxynivalenol induces ovarian damage and uterine changes in prepubertal and adult mice

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is associated with reproductive toxicity in animals. The frequent contamination of cereal-based foods with DON and the high intake of these by children raises particular concern about the susceptibility of this subpopulation to adverse effects from this mycotoxin. However, age-related differences in the in vivo reproductive toxicity of DON have not been evaluated. Therefore, the effects of DON on serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, histology, and inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the ovaries and uteruses of prepubertal and adult mice were investigated. Twenty female prepubertal Swiss mice (21 days old) and 20 young adult mice (65 days old) were fed a control diet or a diet containing 10 mg of DON/kg of feed for 15 days (prepubertal mice) and 28 days (adult mice). In the ovaries, DON induced an increase in the lesional score in both age groups. Ingestion of DON decreased FSH levels in prepubertal females, whereas an increase was observed in adult mice. In prepubertal mice, a reduction in the number of macrophages and increased levels of TNF-α were observed in the ovaries of the DON group, while in adult animals, an increase in the number of macrophages and higher levels of TNF-α were noted. Exposure to DON led to an increase in type I collagen in the uteruses of adult mice, while in prepubertal mice, a decrease in type III collagen was observed. DON exposure also resulted in a decrease in FRAP levels and an increase in ABTS and lipid peroxidation in the uteruses of prepubertal mice. Taken together, the results indicate that the effects of DON on reproductive organs are age-specific, with toxicity established as early as the prepubertal period.

Mycotoxin Challenge in Dairy Cows: Assessment of the Efficacy of an Anti-Mycotoxin Agent by Adopting an In Vitro Rumen Simulation Method

To protect ruminants from the harmful effects of mycotoxins, anti-mycotoxin agents can be added to the dietary ration, thus guaranteeing animal health and production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ruminal initial sequestration (weak binding) and subsequent desorption (strong binding) of an anti-mycotoxin agent based on a mixture of adsorbing material, turmeric and milk thistle extracts and yeast-based components to adsorb or bio-convert aflatoxins (AF), fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB), trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and zearalenone (ZEN). Two doses were tested: Dose 1 simulated 30 mg/cow/d, while Dose 2 simulated 90 mg/cow/d of the anti-mycotoxin agent. Each treatment involved three analytical replicates at each of three incubation times (1, 4, and 24 h post-incubation), with two independent experimental runs providing experimental replicates. Analytical methods, including UHPLC-HRMS and multivariate analyses, were used to both quantify mycotoxin concentrations and reveal dose-dependent reductions, with statistical validations indicating significant changes in mycotoxin levels across both dose and time. The results indicated that the anti-mycotoxin agent was able to highly bind AFB1, T2, and HT-2 toxins since its concentration was always under the limit of detection (<1 ppb). Regarding ZEN (weak binding mean: 94.6%; strong binding mean: 62.4%) and FBs (weak binding mean: 58.7%; strong binding mean: 32.3%), orthogonal contrasts indicated that the anti-mycotoxin agent was able to effectively bind these toxins using Dose 1 (p < 0.05). This finding suggests that Dose 1 may be sufficient to achieve the targeted effect and that a further increase does not significantly improve the outcome. Regarding DON, a strong linear relationship was observed between dose and adsorption. However, the complex interactions between the mycotoxin, the ruminal environment, and the anti-mycotoxin agent made it difficult to establish a clear dose-effect relationship (p > 0.10). UHPLC-HRMS analysis identified over 1500 mass features in rumen samples, which were further analyzed to assess the effects of the anti-mycotoxin agent. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) revealed significant changes in the untargeted metabolomic profiles of samples treated with mycotoxins compared to control samples, particularly after 24 h with the anti-mycotoxin treatments. Clear differences were noted between strong binding and weak binding samples. Further analysis using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) highlighted distinct metabolomic profiles, with stronger predictive ability in the strong binding group (Q2 cumulative value of 0.57) compared to the weak binding group (0.30). The analysis identified 44 discriminant compounds in the strong binding model and 16 in the weak binding model. Seven compounds were common to both groups, while silibinin, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, was found among the unique compounds in the weak binding group. Overall, the findings suggest that both doses of the anti-mycotoxin agent significantly influenced the chemical profiles in the rumen, particularly enhancing the binding of mycotoxins, thereby supporting the role of phytogenic extracts in mitigating mycotoxin effects.

Ochratoxin A in food commodities: A review of occurrence, toxicity, and management strategies

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent mycotoxin produced by species of Aspergillus and Penicillium that contaminate agricultural products and pose significant health risks to both humans and animals. This review examines the mechanisms of OTA toxicity, its occurrence in various food commodities, and the implications for public health and trade. Literature pertaining to OTA was sourced from Google Scholar, covering the period from 2004 to 2024. OTA exposure is linked to multiple adverse health effects, including teratogenicity, immunotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity, with a primary impact on kidney function, and it is classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B). Its toxic effects are attributed to several mechanisms, including lipid peroxidation, inhibition of protein synthesis, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notable findings included the presence of OTA in 46.7 % of cocoa products in Turkey, 32 % of cocoa samples in Côte d'Ivoire exceeding the OTA threshold of 2 μg/kg, and 91.5 % of ready-to-sell cocoa beans in Nigeria testing positive for OTA. Coffee beans are particularly susceptible to OTA contamination, which underscores the need for vigilant monitoring. Additionally, OTA contamination impacts agricultural productivity and food safety, leading to significant economic consequences, particularly in regions reliant on exports, such as cocoa and coffee. Several countries regulate the OTA levels in food products to safeguard public health. However, these regulations can impede trade, particularly in countries with high levels of contamination. Balancing regulatory compliance with economic viability is crucial for affected nations. Current strategies for managing OTA include improved agronomic practices, such as the use of biocontrol agents for pest management, enhanced storage conditions to prevent mould growth, and the implementation of detoxification techniques to reduce OTA levels in food products. Despite these strategies, OTA remains a significant threat to public health and the agricultural economy worldwide. The complexity of contamination in food products requires robust prevention, control, and management strategies to mitigate its impact. Continuous research and regulatory initiatives are essential for safeguarding consumers and ensuring food safety.

Effects of embryo injected with ochratoxin A on growth performance, jejunal morphology and barrier of ducklings

1. This trial investigated the effect on embryo injected with ochratoxin A (OTA) and the growth performance, jejunal morphology and barrier of ducklings to 21 d old.2. Two hundred forty, fertilised eggs were individually weighed and randomly assigned to two groups, a control (CON) and the OTA treatment, according to average egg weight. On d 13 of embryonic development, the treatment group was injected with 8 ng OTA/g egg and the CON group was injected with NaHCO3 solution as a placebo. All newly hatched ducklings were assigned to the CON or OTA group based on the different treatments. Each treatment consisted of six replicates and each included 10 ducklings and the experiment lasted until 21 d of age.3. The results showed that embryos injected with OTA affected the 21 d body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) of ducklings (p < 0.05). OTA exposure increased the relative weights of the liver, pancreas, gizzard, proventriculus and jejunum (p < 0.05); and decreased the relative length of the jejunum of ducklings (p < 0.05). Moreover, jejunal crypt depth increased (p < 0.05) and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (Vh/Cd) decreased in the OTA-injected group (p < 0.05). Compared with those in the CON group, the mRNA expression of Zonula Occludens-1; (ZO-1) (p = 0.0582) and Occludin; (p = 0.0687) in the OTA treatment group was downregulated.4. The findings demonstrated that a single low-dose injection of OTA increased body weight and daily gain in ducklings. Moreover, embryo exposure to OTA had negative effects with increased relative weight of organs and the jejunal crypt depth, decreased relative length of the intestine and mRNA expression of tight junctions (ZO-1, Occludin).

Mycotoxins and coccidiosis in poultry - co-occurrence, interaction, and effects

Avian coccidiosis, a common disease caused by Eimeria species, results in significant losses in global poultry production. Mycotoxins are low-molecular-weight natural products (i.e., small molecules) produced as secondary metabolites by filamentous fungi and they have the potential to economically and significantly affect global poultry production. Little is known about the relationship between mycotoxins and avian coccidiosis, although they often co-occur in the field. This comprehensive review examines the intricate relationship between mycotoxins and avian coccidiosis, in particular how mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes as well as Fusarium mycotoxins, compromise the health of the poultry flock and open the door to Eimeria parasites in the gut. In addition, this review sheds light on the immunosuppressive effects of mycotoxins, their disruption of cellular signaling pathways, and the consequent exacerbation of coccidiosis infections. The mechanisms of mycotoxin toxicity are also reviewed, emphasizing direct damage to intestinal epithelial cells, impaired nutrient absorption, inflammation, oxidative stress, and changes in the gut microbiota. Finally, the consequences for the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis when mycotoxins are present in the feed are discussed. This review emphasizes the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the combined risks of mycotoxins and coccidiosis and highlights the complexity of diagnosing and controlling these interrelated problems in poultry. The review advocates a holistic approach that includes strict feed management, disease prevention measures and regular monitoring to maintain the health and productivity of poultry against these significant challenges.

Embryo injected with Ochratoxin A induced jejunum injury in ducklings by activating the TLR4 signaling pathway: Involvement of intestinal microbiota

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin that causes intestinal injury in humans and various animal species. OTA may lead to intestinal injury in offspring due to the maternal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings. The results showed that OTA disrupted the jejunum tight junctions in hatching ducklings, and promoted the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. And this inflammatory response was caused by the activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway. Moreover, embryo injected with OTA could cause damage to the intestinal barrier in 21-day-old ducks, characterized by shortened villi, crypt hyperplasia, disrupted intestinal tight junctions, increased level of LPS in the jejunum, activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, OTA induced oxidative stress in the jejunum. And dysbiosis of gut microbiota was mainly characterized by an increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Megamonas, Fournierella, and decreased the relative abundance of Alistipes and Weissella. Interestingly, embryo injected with OTA did not induce these changes in the jejunum of antibiotics-treated 21-day-old ducks. In conclusion, embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings by activating the TLR4 signaling pathway, which involvement of intestinal microbiota.

The protective effects of Kefir extract (KE) on intestinal damage in larval zebrafish induced by Oxytetracycline: Insights into intestinal function, morphology, and molecular mechanisms

The antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) can be detected in contemporary natural aquatic environments and has been implicated in causing intestinal damage in humans exposed to OTC-contaminated food or water. The irreversible damage caused by high concentrations of OTC to the intestine suggests that treatment through dietary means could still be necessary. This study proved the effectiveness of kefir extract (KE) in reversing intestinal damage caused by oxytetracycline (OTC) exposure. Following a 24-hour KE treatment subsequent to OTC exposure from 3 to 8 days post-fertilization of zebrafish larvae, molecular-level and microbiomic assessments revealed significant improvements. These included reduced expression of proinflammatory factors (IL-8 and IL-1β), increased antioxidant levels, and reversed unhealthy distribution of intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, KE supplementation showed potential in enhancing intestinal motility in the experiment of Nile red staining and fluorescent microbead transit. However, histological analysis showed that this short-term treatment with KE only partially reversed the intestinal morphological changes induced by OTC, suggesting that a longer treatment period might be necessary for complete restoration.

Are Infants and Children at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Dietary Deoxynivalenol Exposure? An Integrative Review

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a foodborne mycotoxin produced by Fusarium molds that commonly infect cereal grains. It is a potent protein synthesis inhibitor that can significantly impact humans' gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous systems and can alter the microbiome landscape. Low-dose, chronic exposure to DON has been found to stimulate the immune system, inhibit protein synthesis, and cause appetite suppression, potentially leading to growth failure in children. At higher doses, DON has been shown to cause immune suppression, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, the malabsorption of nutrients, intestinal hemorrhaging, dizziness, and fever. A provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) limit of 1 µg/kg/body weight has been established to protect humans, underscoring the potential health risks associated with DON intake. While the adverse effects of dietary DON exposure have been established, healthcare communities have not adequately investigated or addressed this threat to child health, possibly due to the assumption that current regulatory exposure limits protect the public appropriately. This integrative review investigated whether current dietary DON exposure rates in infants and children regularly exceed PMTDI limits, placing them at risk of negative health effects. On a global scale, the routine contamination of cereal grains, bakery products, pasta, and human milk with DON could lead to intake levels above PMTDI limits. Furthermore, evidence suggests that other food commodities, such as soy, coffee, tea, dried spices, nuts, certain seed oils, animal milk, and various water reservoirs, can be intermittently contaminated, further amplifying the scope of the issue. Better mitigation strategies and global measures are needed to safeguard vulnerable youth from this harmful toxicant.

Deoxynivalenol Inhibits Progenitor Leydig Cell Development by Stimulating Mitochondrial Fission in Rats

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common food contaminant that can impair male reproductive function. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of DON exposure on progenitor Leydig cell (PLC) development in prepubertal male rats. Rats were orally administrated DON (0-4 mg/kg) from postnatal days 21-28. DON increased PLC proliferation but inhibited PLC maturation and function, including reducing testosterone levels and downregulating biomarkers like HSD11B1 and INSL3 at ≥2 mg/kg. DON also stimulated mitochondrial fission via upregulating DRP1 and FIS1 protein levels and increased oxidative stress by reducing antioxidant capacity (including NRF2, SOD1, SOD2, and CAT) in PLCs in vivo. In vitro, DON (2-4 μM) inhibited PLC androgen biosynthesis, increased reactive oxygen species production and protein levels of DRP1, FIS1, MFF, and pAMPK, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and MFN1 protein levels, and caused mitochondrial fragmentation. The mitochondrial fission inhibitor mdivi-1 attenuated DON-induced impairments in PLCs. DON inhibited PLC steroidogenesis, increased oxidative stress, perturbed mitochondrial homeostasis, and impaired maturation. In conclusion, DON disrupts PLC development in prepubertal rats by stimulating mitochondrial fission.

Toxicodynamic of combined mycotoxins: MicroRNAs and acute-phase proteins as diagnostic biomarkers

Mycotoxins, ubiquitous contaminants in food, present a global threat to human health and well-being. Mitigation efforts, such as the implementation of sound agricultural practices, thorough food processing, and the advancement of mycotoxin control technologies, have been instrumental in reducing mycotoxin exposure and associated toxicity. To comprehensively assess mycotoxins and their toxicodynamic implications, the deployment of effective and predictive strategies is imperative. Understanding the manner of action, transformation, and cumulative toxic effects of mycotoxins, moreover, their interactions with food matrices can be gleaned through gene expression and transcriptome analyses at cellular and molecular levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) govern the expression of target genes and enzymes that play pivotal roles in physiological, pathological, and toxicological responses, whereas acute phase proteins (APPs) exert regulatory control over the metabolism of therapeutic agents, both endogenously and posttranscriptionally. Consequently, this review aims to consolidate current knowledge concerning the regulatory role of miRNAs in the initiation of toxicological pathways by mycotoxins and explores the potential of APPs as biomarkers following mycotoxin exposure. The findings of this research highlight the potential utility of miRNAs and APPs as indicators for the detection and management of mycotoxins in food through biological processes. These markers offer promising avenues for enhancing the safety and quality of food products.

Curcumin attenuates aflatoxin B1-induced ileum injury in ducks by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a widespread toxic contamination in feed for animals. The primary active component of turmeric, curcumin (Cur), is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. However, it is yet unknown how AFB1 affects the intestinal epithelial barrier and whether Cur acts as a protective mechanism when exposed to AFB1. Here, we explored the mechanism of AFB1-induced intestinal injury from intestinal epithelial barrier, inflammation, pyroptosis, and intestinal flora, and evaluated the protective role of Cur. We found that AFB1 caused weight loss and intestinal morphological damage that is mainly characterized by shortened intestinal villi, deepened crypts, and damaged intestinal epithelium. Exposure to AFB1 decreased the expression of Claudin-1, MUC2, ZO-1, and Occludin and increased the expression of pyroptosis-related factors (NLRP3, GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) and inflammation-related factors (TLR4, NF-κB, IκB, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). Furthermore, ileal gut microbiota was altered, and simultaneously, the Lactobacillus abundance was decreased. The gut microbiota interacts with a wide range of physiologic functions and disease development in the host through its metabolites, and disturbances in gut microbial metabolism can cause functional impairment of the ileum. Meanwhile, Cur can ameliorate histological ileum injuries and intestinal flora disturbance caused by AFB1. We found that Cur reversed the effects of AFB1 through modulating both NLRP3 inflammasome and the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, AFB1 can induce inflammatory damage and pyroptosis in duck ileum, while Cur has obviously protective effects on all the above damages.

A comprehensive review of mycotoxins: Toxicology, detection, and effective mitigation approaches

Mycotoxins, harmful compounds produced by fungal pathogens, pose a severe threat to food safety and consumer health. Some commonly produced mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, and patulin have serious health implications in humans and animals. Mycotoxin contamination is particularly concerning in regions heavily reliant on staple foods like grains, cereals, and nuts. Preventing mycotoxin contamination is crucial for a sustainable food supply. Chromatographic methods like thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (LC/MS), are commonly used to detect mycotoxins; however, there is a need for on-site, rapid, and cost-effective detection methods. Currently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), lateral flow assays (LFAs), and biosensors are becoming popular analytical tools for rapid detection. Meanwhile, preventing mycotoxin contamination is crucial for food safety and a sustainable food supply. Physical, chemical, and biological approaches have been used to inhibit fungal growth and mycotoxin production. However, new strains resistant to conventional methods have led to the exploration of novel strategies like cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology, polyphenols and flavonoids, magnetic materials and nanoparticles, and natural essential oils (NEOs). This paper reviews recent scientific research on mycotoxin toxicity, explores advancements in detecting mycotoxins in various foods, and evaluates the effectiveness of innovative mitigation strategies for controlling and detoxifying mycotoxins.

Aflatoxin B1 exposure causes splenic pyroptosis by disturbing the gut microbiota-immune axis

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) causes serious immunotoxicity and has attracted considerable attention owing to its high sensitivity and common chemical-viral interactions in living organisms. However, the sensitivity of different species to AFB1 widely varies, which cannot be explained by the different metabolism in species. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the immune system, but the interaction of the microbiota with AFB1-induced immunotoxicity still needs to be determined. Our results indicated that AFB1 exposure disrupted the structure of the gut microbiota and damaged the gut barrier, which caused translocation of microbiota metabolites, lipopolysaccharides, to the spleen. Subsequently, pyroptosis of the spleen was activated. Interestingly, AFB1 exposure had little effect on the splenic pyroptosis of pseudo-germfree mice (antibiotic mixtures eliminated their gut microbiota, ABX). Then, fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and sterile fecal filtrate (SFF) were employed to validate the function of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in AFB1-induced splenic pyroptosis. The AFB1-disrupted microbiota and its metabolites significantly promoted splenic pyroptosis, which was worse than that in control mice. Overall, AFB1-induced splenic pyroptosis is associated with the gut microbiota and its metabolites, which was further demonstrated by FMT and SFF. The mechanism of AFB1-induced splenic pyroptosis was explored for the first time, which paves a new way for preventing and treating the immunotoxicity from mycotoxins by regulating the gut microbiota.

Potassium diformate alleviated inflammation of IPEC-J2 cells infected with EHEC

Potassium diformate (KDF) is a kind of formate, which possesses the advantages of antimicrobial activity, growth promotion and preventing diarrhea in weaned piglets. However, the researches of KDF in animal production mostly focused on apparent indexes such as growth performance and the mechanisms of KDF on intestinal health have not been reported. Thus, porcine small intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) infected with Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) was used to investigate the role of KDF on alleviating intestinal inflammation in this study. The 0.125 mg/mL KDF treated IPEC-J2 cells for 6 h and IPEC-J2 cells challenged with 5 × 107 CFU/mL EHEC for 4 h were confirmed as the optimum concentration and time for the following experiment. The subsequent experiment was divided into four groups: control group (CON), EHEC group, KDF group, KDF+EHEC group. The results showed that KDF increased the cell viability and the gene expression levels of SGLT3 and TGF-β, while decreased the content of IL-1β compared with the CON group. The cell viability and the gene expressions of SGLT1, SGLT3, GLUT2, Claudin-1, Occludin and TGF-β, and the protein expression of ZO-1 in EHEC group were lower than those in CON group, whereas the gene expressions of IL-1β, TNF, IL-8 and TLR4, and the level of phosphorylation NF-кB protein were increased. Pretreatment with KDF reduced the content of IgM and IL-1β, the gene expressions of IL-1β, TNF, IL-8 and TLR4 and the level of phosphorylation NF-кB protein, and increased the gene expression of TGF-β and the protein expression of Occludin in IPEC-J2 cells infected EHEC. In conclusion, 0.125 mg/mL KDF on IPEC-J2 cells for 6 h had the beneficial effects on ameliorating the intestinal inflammation because of reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokines through regulating NF-кB signaling pathway under the EHEC challenge.

The Alleviating Effect of Taxifolin on Deoxynivalenol-Induced Damage in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in feed is a global concern that severely threatens the health of animals and humans. Taxifolin (TA) is a natural flavonoid, a member of the polyphenols, that possesses robust antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TA on DON-induced damage in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). The cells were pre-incubated with a series of concentrations of TA for 24 h and exposed to DON (0.5 μg/mL) for another 24 h. The results showed that pretreatment with TA (150 μM) significantly inhibited the DON-induced decline in cell viability (p < 0.05) and cell proliferation (p < 0.01). Additionally, 150 μM TA also alleviated DON-induced apoptosis (p < 0.01). Moreover, TA decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by DON (p < 0.01). In addition, TA attenuated DON-induced cell junction damage (p < 0.05). Further experiments showed that TA reversed the DON-induced reduction in antioxidant capacity in the IPEC-J2 cells, probably via activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings suggest that 150 μM TA can protect against 0.5 μg/mL DON-induced damage to IPEC-J2 cells, potentially via the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. This study provides insight into TA's potential to act as a green feed additive in the pig farming industry and its efficacy in counteracting DON-induced intestinal damage.

Effects of a Curcumin/Silymarin/Yeast-Based Mycotoxin Detoxifier on Redox Status and Growth Performance of Weaned Piglets under Field Conditions

The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of a novel mycotoxin detoxifier whose formulation includes clay (bentonite and sepiolite), phytogenic feed additives (curcumin and silymarin) and postbiotics (yeast products) on the health, performance and redox status of weaned piglets under the dietary challenge of fumonisins (FUMs). The study was conducted in duplicate in the course of two independent trials on two different farms. One hundred and fifty (150) weaned piglets per trial farm were allocated into two separate groups: (a) T1 (control group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed and (b) T2 (experimental group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed with the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent from the day of weaning (28 days) until 70 days of age. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), protein carbonyls (CARBs) and the overall antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in plasma as indicators of redox status at 45 and 70 days of age. Furthermore, mortality and performance parameters were recorded at 28, 45 and 70 days of age, while histopathological examination was performed at the end of the trial period (day 70). The results of the present study reveal the beneficial effects of supplementing a novel mycotoxin detoxifier in the diets of weaners, including improved redox status, potential hepatoprotective properties and enhanced growth performance.

Hidden Hazards Revealed: Mycotoxins and Their Masked Forms in Poultry

The presence of mycotoxins and their masked forms in chicken feed poses a significant threat to both productivity and health. This review examines the multifaceted impacts of mycotoxins on various aspects of chicken well-being, encompassing feed efficiency, growth, immunity, antioxidants, blood biochemistry, and internal organs. Mycotoxins, toxic substances produced by fungi, can exert detrimental effects even at low levels of contamination. The hidden or masked forms of mycotoxins further complicate the situation, as they are not easily detected by conventional methods but can be converted into their toxic forms during digestion. Consequently, chickens are exposed to mycotoxin-related risks despite apparently low mycotoxin levels. The consequences of mycotoxin exposure in chickens include reduced feed efficiency, compromised growth rates, impaired immune function, altered antioxidant levels, disturbances in blood biochemical parameters, and adverse effects on internal organs. To mitigate these impacts, effective management strategies are essential, such as routine monitoring of feed ingredients and finished feeds, adherence to proper storage practices, and the implementation of feed detoxification methods and mycotoxin binders. Raising awareness of these hidden hazards is crucial for safeguarding chicken productivity and health.

The role of chamomile oil against ochratoxin A in quail breeders: productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, and blood metabolites

This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial role of chamomile essential oil in improving productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, and blood metabolites and reducing the toxic effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in quail breeder's diets. A total of 144 mature quails, 8 wk old, were divided into 6 groups. The treatments were: G1 (the control), G2 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet), G3 (supplemented with chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), G4 (supplemented with chamomile oil 1 G/kg diet), G5 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), and G6 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 1 g/kg diet). The OTA administration alone significantly decreased egg production and mass in quail breeders (P < 0.0001). Moreover, poor feed conversion ratio (FCR), fertility percentage (P < 0.0001), and hatchability percentage (P < 0.0009) were recorded. A significant decline (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum protein (total protein and globulin) was also recorded in OTA-contaminated groups, along with elevated serum levels of liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) and kidney function test as urea and creatinine levels (P < 0.05). Ochratoxin A-contaminated feed resulted in a significant elevation (P < 0.05) in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), along with a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in antioxidant status and immunological response. The supplementation of chamomile essential oil, either 0.5 g/kg or 1g/kg, to the basal diet or OTA-supplemented feed, revealed a significant increase in hatchability %, fertility, egg mass, and egg production and better FCR, egg quality, and immunological status when compared to OTA only. Moreover, chamomile essential oil supplementation improves liver and kidney function markers, decreases LDL, VLDL), TG, and TC. Along with a significant increase (P < 0.05) in terms of antioxidant status as glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly (P < 0.05) improves immunological response as IgM, IgG, lysozyme and complement 3. In summary, chamomile oil supplementation, either separate or combined with OTA, reduced the adverse effects of OTA and led to improved productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, and blood metabolites in Japanese quail breeders.

Piceatannol Alleviates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Damage in Intestinal Epithelial Cells via Inhibition of the NF-κB Pathway

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxin that is widely found in various foods and feeds, posing a potential threat to human and animal health. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of the natural polyphenol piceatannol (PIC) against DON-induced damage in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2 cells) and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that PIC promotes IPEC-J2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it not only significantly relieved DON-induced decreases in cell viability and proliferation but also reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Further studies demonstrated that PIC alleviated DON-induced oxidative stress damage by increasing the protein expression levels of the antioxidant factors NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and the mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1), peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3), and glutathione S-transferase alpha 4 (GSTα4). In addition, PIC inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor-B (NF-κB) pathway, downregulated the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) to attenuate DON-induced inflammatory responses, and further mitigated DON-induced cellular intestinal barrier injury by regulating the protein expression of Occludin. These findings indicated that PIC had a significant protective effect against DON-induced damage. This study provides more understanding to support PIC as a feed additive for pig production.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of genkwanin against aflatoxin B1-induced testicular toxicity

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most hazardous aflatoxin that causes significant damage to the male reproductive system. Genkwanin (GNK) is a bioactive flavonoid that shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Therefore, the current study was planned to evaluate the effects of GNK against AFB1-induced testicular toxicity. Forty-eight male rats were distributed into four groups (n = 12 rats). AFB1 (50 μg/kg) and GNK (20 mg/kg) were administered to the rats for eight weeks. Results of the current study revealed that AFB1 exposure induced adverse effects on the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and reduced the expressions and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, it increased the levels of oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, expressions of steroidogenic enzymes were down-regulated by AFB1 intoxication. Besides, AFB1 exposure reduced the levels of gonadotropins and plasma testosterone, which subsequently reduced the epididymal sperm count, motility, and hypo-osmotic swelled (HOS) sperms, while increasing the number of dead sperms and causing morphological anomalies of the head, midpiece, and tail of the sperms. In addition, AFB1 decreased the activities of testicular function marker enzymes and the levels of inflammatory markers. Moreover, it severely affected the apoptotic profile by up-regulating the expressions of Bax and Casp3, while down-regulating the Bcl2 expression. Besides, AFB1 significantly damaged the histoarchitecture of testicular tissues. However, GNK treatment reversed all the AFB1-induced damages in the rats. Taken together, the current study reports the potential use of GNK as a therapeutic agent to prevent AFB1-induced testicular toxicity due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Low dose dietary contamination with deoxynivalenol mycotoxin exacerbates enteritis and colorectal cancer in mice

BACKGROUND

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a frequent contaminant of grain and cereal products worldwide. Exposure to DON can cause gastrointestinal inflammation, disturb gut barrier function, and induce gut dysbiosis in vivo under basal conditions, but little is known about the effects of DON ingestion in individuals with pre-existing gastrointestinal disease.

OBJECTIVES

Mice were orally exposed to 10 and 100 μg/kg bw/day of DON, corresponding to 10 to 100-fold human tolerable daily intake concentrations, and to the translation in mice of current human daily intake. The effects of DON exposure were explored under steady-state conditions, and in murine models of enteritis and colorectal cancer (CRC).

RESULTS

After 8 days of DON exposure, an increase of histomorphological and molecular parameters of epithelial proliferation were observed in normal mice, from the duodenum to the colon. The same exposure in a murine model of indomethacin-induced enteritis led to exacerbation of lesion development and induction of ileal cytokines. DON exposure also worsened the development of colitis-associated CRC in mice as shown by increases in endoscopic and histological colitis scores, tumor grades, and histological hyperplasia. In colon of DON-exposed mice, upstream and downstream ERK signaling genes were upregulated including Mapk1, Mapk3, Map 2k1, Map2k2 core ERK pathway effectors, and Bcl2 and Bcl2l1 antiapoptotic genes. The effects observed in the CRC model were associated with alterations in cecal microbiota taxonomic composition and metabolism of bacterial fucose and rhamnose. Strong Spearman's correlations were revealed between the relative abundance of the changed bacterial genera and CRC-related variables.

DISCUSSION

Ingestion of DON mycotoxin at concentrations representative of human real-world exposure worsened the development of indomethacin-induced enteritis and colitis-associated CRC in mice. Our results suggest that even at low doses, which are currently tolerated in the human diet, DON could promote the development of intestinal inflammatory diseases and CRC.

Deoxynivalenol Exposure Induced Colon Damage in Mice Independent of the Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

To investigate whether deoxynivalenol (DON) can induce intestinal damage through gut microbiota in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice are orally administered DON (1 mg kg-1 bw day-1 ) for 4 weeks, and then recipient mice receive fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from DON-exposed mice after antibiotic treatment. Furthermore, the mice are orally treated with DON (1 mg kg-1 bw day-1 ) for 4 weeks after antibiotic treatment. Histological damage, disruption of tight junction protein expression, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in the colon as well as higher serum lipopolysaccharides are observed after DON exposure. Moreover, DON exposure changes the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota as well as the contents of fecal metabolites (mainly bile acids). Differential metabolic pathways may be related to mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, and inflammation following DON exposure. However, only a decrease in mRNA levels of occludin and claudin-3 is observed in the colon of recipient mice after FMT. After depleting the gut microbiota in mice, DON exposure can also cause histological damage, disorders of tight junction protein expression, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in the colon.

CONCLUSIONS

DON exposure can induce colon damage in mice independent of the gut microbiota.

Effects of Different Eimeria Inoculation Doses on Growth Performance, Daily Feed Intake, Gut Health, Gut Microbiota, Foot Pad Dermatitis, and Eimeria Gene Expression in Broilers Raised in Floor Pens for 35 Days

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different Eimeria inoculation doses on the growth performance, gut ecosystem, and body composition of broilers in floor pens for 35 days. A total of 750 15-day-old broilers were allocated to five experimental groups with six replicate pens. The five experimental groups included unchallenged control (CON); Eimeria dose 1 (ED1): E. acervulina: 31,250/E. maxima: 6250/E. tenella: 6250; Eimeria dose 2 (ED2): E. acervulina: 62,500/E. maxima: 12,500/E. tenella: 12,500; Eimeria dose 3 (ED3): E. acervulina: 125,000/E. maxima: 25,000/E. tenella: 25,000; and Eimeria dose 4 (ED4): E. acervulina: 250,000/E. maxima: 50,000/E. tenella: 50,000. On D 21, BW were linearly reduced by increased Eimeria inoculation doses (p < 0.01). On D 35, the Eimeria challenge groups had significantly lower BW compared to the CON group. Increased Eimeria inoculation doses linearly decreased crude fat (CF) (p < 0.01) on D 21. Increased Eimeria inoculation doses tended to increase the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria (p = 0.098) on D 21. On D 35, lean:fat was linearly reduced by increased Eimeria inoculation doses (p < 0.05). Eimeria infection negatively influenced growth performance and gut health in broilers in the acute phase, and the negative effects were prolonged to D 35 in floor pen conditions.

Research update on aflatoxins toxicity, metabolism, distribution, and detection: A concise overview

Serious health risks associated with the consumption of food products contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs) are worldwide recognized and depend predominantly on consumed AF concentration by diet. A low concentration of aflatoxins in cereals and related food commodities is unavoidable, especially in subtropic and tropic regions. Accordingly, risk assessment guidelines established by regulatory bodies in different countries help in the prevention of aflatoxin intoxication and the protection of public health. By assessing the maximal levels of aflatoxins in food products which are a potential risk to human health, it's possible to establish appropriate risk management strategies. Regarding, a few factors are crucial for making a rational risk management decision, such as toxicological profile, adequate information concerning the exposure duration, availability of routine and some novel analytical techniques, socioeconomic factors, food intake patterns, and maximal allowed levels of each aflatoxin in different food products which may be varied between countries.

Selenomethionine attenuates ochratoxin A-induced small intestinal injury in rabbits by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NF-κB activation

The aim of this study was to investigate whether selenomethionine (SeMet) could attenuate intestinal injury in rabbits induced by ochratoxin A (OTA). Sixty 35-day-old IRA rabbits with similar weights were randomly assigned to the control group, OTA group (0.2 mg OTA/kg b.w), OTA+ 0.2 mg/kg Se (0.2 mg OTA/kg b.w + 0.2 mg SeMet/kg feed), OTA+ 0.4 mg/kg Se (0.2 mg OTA/kg b.w + 0.4 mg SeMet/kg feed) and OTA+ 0.6 mg/kg Se (0.2 mg OTA/kg b.w + 0.6 mg SeMet/kg feed). The rabbits were examined after oral administration of different doses of SeMet for 21 days and were intragastrically administered OTA for 7 consecutive days. The results showed that pretreatment with different doses of SeMet protected against the changes in serum biochemical indicators and the decline in production performance caused by OTA exposure. In addition, the activities of SOD, GSH-PX and T-AOC were significantly increased, and the levels of MDA and ROS were decreased after SeMet pretreatment; thus, oxidative damage in rabbit jejunum tissue due to OTA exposure was inhibited. SeMet stimulates Nrf2 and inhibits the NF-κB signalling pathway; the anti-inflammatory response and antioxidative stress in rabbits were improved, and the intestinal barrier damage caused by OTA exposure was improved. In summary, SeMet alleviates OTA-induced intestinal toxicity in rabbits by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NF-κB activation. Moreover, 0.4 mg/kg SeMet induced the most significant improvement.

Combination of glycyrrhizic acid and compound probiotics alleviates deoxynivalenol-induced damage to weaned piglets

Deoxynivalenol (DON) can affect health and growth performance of pigs, resulting in significant economic losses in swine production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizic acid combined with compound probiotics, i.e. Enterococcus faecalis plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GAP) on improving growth performance, intestinal health and its fecal microbiota composition change of piglets challenged with DON. A total of 160 42-day-old weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White) were used and the experimental period was 28 d. The results showed that supplementing GAP in the diet significantly improved the growth performance of piglets challenged with DON and alleviate DON-induced intestinal damage by reducing ALT, AST and LDH concentrations in serum, increasing the morphological parameters of jejunum, and decreasing DON residues in serum, liver and feces. Moreover, GAP could significantly decrease the expressions of inflammation and apoptosis genes and proteins (IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, COX-2, Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase 3), and increase the expressions of tight-junction proteins and nutrient transport factor genes and proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, ASCT2 and PePT1). In addition, it was also found that GAP supplementation could significantly increase the diversity of gut microbiota, maintain microbial flora balance and promote piglet growth by significantly increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterium such as Lactobacillus and reducing the abundance of harmful bacterium such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. In conclusion, GAP addition to piglet diets contaminated with DON could significantly promote the health and growth performance of piglets though alleviating DON-induced hazards. This study provided a theoretical basis for the application of GAP to alleviate DON toxicity for animals.

Effect of Lactobacillus sp. and yeast supplementation on performance and some blood attributes in deoxynivalenol-challenged broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of probiotic (Lactobacillus sp.) and yeast (Saccharomycese cerevisiae) on performance, organ attributes and blood traits in broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old female broiler chickens (Hubbard)® were allocated to 9 treatments and four replicates (10 birds per replication). The trail was performed in a completely randomized design (3 × 3 factorial arrangement) to examine the interaction effect of three concentrations of Lactobacillus sp. (0, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg) and yeast (0, 0.75 and 1.5 g/kg) in deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated diets. The results showed that consumption of Lactobacillus sp. and yeast in DON-contaminated diets did not have a significant effect on broiler performance except for feed intake during starter period which was enhanced by yeast administration (P < 0.05). Increasing the Lactobacillus sp. content also reduced (P = 0.05) the proportional liver weight. Administration of Lactobacillus sp. to DON diets increased total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations (P < 0.05). Calcium and creatinine were influenced by yeast and Lactobacillus sp., respectively. Yeast (1.5 g/kg) and Lactobacillus sp. (0.2 g/kg) and combination of two additives (1.5 × 0.2) led to lower triglyceride concentration compared to DON group (P < 0.05). The DON diet increased aspartate amino transferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes concentrations; while, inclusion of 0.4 g/kg Lactobacillus sp. to DON diet decreased AST and LDH enzymes concentrations (P < 0.05). In conclusion, administration of Lactobacillus sp. and yeast could not influence the performance of DON-fed birds; but these additives could reduce negative effects of DON on enzyme activities and some blood attributes.

Drug-independent control strategy of clostridial infection in broiler chickens using anti-toxin environmentally friendly multienzymes

The study investigated the effect of enzymes as a toxin detoxifier (DETOXIZYME) dietary supplementation on performance during growth, blood chemistry, and immunity under clostridia infection in chickens. A total of 480, day-old male chicks were randomly distributed to four groups, with six replicates of 20 birds each. The first control negative treatment (A) fed the basal formula as commercial feed prepared following the strain's needs, the second control positive group (B) fed the basal formula challenged with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type A, the third group (C) fed the basal formula with 100 g DETOXIZYME/ton of feed and challenged with clostridia, and the fourth group (D) fed the control basal formula with 100 g DETOXIZYME/ton of feed. DETOXIZYME dietary supplementation significantly boosted body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and European production efficiency factor (EPEF) and improved the feed conversion rate (FCR) of the broilers. The dietary supplementation of DETOXIZYME significantly increased carcass trait and spleen. However, liver and abdominal fat weight significantly decreased compared with clostridia-challenged groups. The values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), uric acid, creatinine, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased. While calcium, phosphate, zinc, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were improved in birds that took basal formulas fortified with DETOXIZYME contrary to the other treatment groups during 35 days of age. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values were reduced versus the other treatment groups. Dietary supplementation of DETOXIZYME increased total protein, albumin, globulin, and Newcastle Disease (ND) immunity titer levels in the overall period compared to other groups. Dietary DETOXIZYME supplementation decreased clostridia and E. coli bacteria counts and improved gut morphometry. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of DETOXIZYME had a positive impact on performance, blood biochemistry, immunity, and bacterial counts and improved the gut morphology in broilers under clostridia infection.

Subclinical doses of dietary fumonisins and deoxynivalenol cause cecal microbiota dysbiosis in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

Fusarium toxins are one of the most common contaminants in poultry diets. The co-occurrence of fumonisins (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON), even at a subclinical dose, negatively affects the growth performance, intestinal integrity and induce subclinical necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Loss of gut integrity can be expected to alter the intestinal microbiota’s composition. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of combined FUM and DON on the cecal microbiome profile and predicted metabolic functions and a short chain fatty acid profile in broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens. A total of 240 1 day-old chicks were randomly assigned to two treatments: a control diet and the control diet with 3 mg/kg FUM + 4 mg/kg DON each with eight replications. All the birds were received cocci vaccine at d0. All birds in both treatment groups were challenged with C. perfringens 1 × 108 CFU via feed on d 19 and 20 to achieve 5% mortality. On d 35, the FUM and DON contaminated diet numerically (P = 0.06) decreased the body weight gain (BWG) by 84 g compared to the control group. The bacterial compositions of the cecal contents were analyzed by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Overall, microbial richness and diversity increased (P &lt; 0.02) during the studied period (d 21–35). Cecal contents of birds in the FUM + DON group had greater (P &lt; 0.05) microbial evenness and diversity (Shannon index) compared to the control group. FUM + DON exposure decreased (P = 0.001) the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the cecal content, compared to the control group. The combined FUM + DON significantly increased the relative abundance of the Defluviitaleaceae and Lachnospiraceae families (P &lt; 0.05) but decreased the abundances of the Moraxellaceae and Streptococcaceae (P &lt; 0.05) compared to the control group birds. At the genus level, FUM + DON exposure decreased (P &lt; 0.05) Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas abundance and had a tendency (P = 0.08) to decrease Thermincola abundance compared to the control group. In the ileum, no NE-specific microscopic abnormalities were found; however, the tip of the ileal villi were compromised. The present findings showed that dietary FUM and DON contamination, even at subclinical levels, altered cecal microbial composition, dysregulated intestinal functions, and impaired the gut immune response, potentially predisposing the birds to necrotic enteritis.

Prevalence and Concentration of Mycotoxins in Animal Feed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study seeks a comprehensive meta-analysis of mycotoxin contaminants in animal feed consumed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The obtained articles were reviewed, and 49 articles that investigated the contamination of mycotoxins including aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin, fumonisins (FUM), and ochratoxin A (OTA), in feed samples or components of animal feed in the MENA region were selected. The titles of the final articles included in the study were meta-analyzed. Necessary information was extracted and categorized from the articles, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata software. The highest contamination was in dry bread (80%), and Algeria was the most contaminated country (87% of animal feed), with the most mycotoxins contaminating AFs (47%) and FUM (47%). The highest concentration of mycotoxins in animal feed is related to FUM (1240.01 μg/kg). Climate change, economic situation, agricultural and processing methods, the nature of the animal feed, and improper use of food waste in animal feed are among the most critical factors that are effective in the occurrence of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed in MENA. Control of influential factors in the occurrence of contaminations and rapid screening with accurate identification methods to prevent the occurrence and spread of mycotoxin contamination of animal feed seem important.

Dietary fumonisin may compromise the nutritive value of feed and distort copper and zinc digestibility and retention in weaned piglets

Fumonisins (FUM) have been reported to impede gut functioning in pigs. However, investigations into the possible effect on mineral metabolism are limited. Thus, the trial studied the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of dietary nitrogen and minerals, intestinal architecture, digestive enzymes activity and heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) activity. Eighteen weaned piglets of 7 weeks old were assigned to three groups and their feed either contained 0, 15 or 30 mg FUM/kg for 21 days. ATTD and retention of dietary N and minerals were measured in a 5- day long balance trial between Day 17 and Day 21. The digestible and metabolisable energy (DE and ME) content of the feeds were also determined. The body weights, cumulative feed intake, relative organ weights, digestive enzymes activity and intestinal morphology were not affected (p > 0.05) by dietary treatments. The DE content was significantly lower (p < 0.05) when the feed contained 15 mg/kg FUM, but no statistically reliable treatment effect was confirmed for ME content. Dietary FUM significantly lowered (p < 0.05) the ATTD of Ca and P but not (p > 0.05) N, K, Mg and Na. The relative retention rate of N, Ca, P, K, Mg and Na in all groups were not impacted (p > 0.05) by treatments. The ATTD and relative retention of Cu and Zn were remarkably (p < 0.05) lower in piglets fed FUM-contaminated feed. In addition, the expression of Hsp70 activity in the liver was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in the highest treatment group. These findings suggest that a dietary dose of 15 or 30 mg FUM/kg diet distorts the nutritive value of the mixed feed, results in poor ATTD and retention rates of Zn and Cu, and elevate Hsp70 activity in the liver without altering intestinal architecture or digestive enzymes' activity in weaned piglets.

Short-term exposure to fumonisins and deoxynivalenol, on broiler growth performance and cecal Salmonella load during experimental Salmonella Enteritidis infection

Fumonisins (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are two common mycotoxins in poultry feed. Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is a primary foodborne bacterium in broilers. This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of naturally occurring FUM and DON and their combination at subclinical doses on broiler performance during a S. Enteritidis challenge. The experiment consisted of five treatments: NCC, no-challenge no-mycotoxin treatment; CC, Salmonella challenge + no-mycotoxin treatment; DON, DON 0.6 mg/kg + Salmonella challenge; FUM, FUM 14 mg/kg + Salmonella challenge; DON + FUM + T-2 + neosolaniol, DON 0.6 mg/kg + FUM 14 mg/kg + T-2 toxin 0.6 mg/kg + 0.8 mg/kg neosolaniol + Salmonella challenge. On d 4, birds were challenged with either 0 or 1 × 10⁹ CFU/mL S. Enteritidis orally. There were no significant effects on growth performance among treatments at 0, 3, 7, and 14 d of post-inoculation (dpi). On 14 dpi, the combined DON + FUM + T-2 + neosolaniol significantly increased the Salmonella load by 1.5 logs compared to the control groups (P < 0.05). FUM significantly increased the cecal tonsil IL-10 gene expression by 1.2-fold at 7 dpi (P < 0.05) and downregulated TNF-α by 1.8-fold on 14 dpi compared to the control, nonchallenge groups (P < 0.05). On 7 dpi, the combined DON + FUM + T-2 + neosolaniol reduced occludin by 4.4-fold (P < 0.05) when compared to the control groups. Similarly, combined DON + FUM+ T-2 + neosolaniol decreased zona-occluden transcription by 2.3 and 7.6-fold on 3 and 14 dpi, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, combined DON + FUM + T-2 + neosolaniol decreased Claudin-1 by 2.2-fold and Claudin-4 by 5.1-fold on 14 dpi when compared to the control groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, short-term exposure to a subclinical dose of combined DON + FUM + T-2 + neosolaniol had an impact on broiler intestinal tight junction proteins and cecal Salmonella abundance under experimental Salmonella challenge.

Assessment of selected immunological parameters in dairy cows with naturally occurring mycotoxicosis before and after the application of a mycotoxin deactivator

Introduction

Mycotoxins in dairy cows can cause many non-specific symptoms often resulting from immune system overreaction. The study assessed the concentration of selected cytokines and acute phase proteins (APP) in cows with natural mycotoxicosis before and after using a mycotoxin neutraliser. The cytokines were tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), and the APP were serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp).

Material and Methods

The research was carried out on an experimental group (Exp) of 10 herdmate Holstein-Friesian cows with mycotoxicosis. The control group (Con) was 10 healthy cows of the same breed from a different herd. Cows in the Exp group were administered the mycotoxin deactivator Mycofix for three months. Blood was drawn from Exp cows once before administering Mycofix and a second time after three months of its use. Blood was also drawn from Con cows at the same times. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, SAA and Hp were assessed using ELISA.

Results

The concentrations of all cytokines and Hp in Exp cows were higher before treatment (P < 0.001) than those in Con cows. After three months of administering Mycofix, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly lower than their pre-treatment levels (P < 0.001). The concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and Hp were still significantly higher than those in the Con group (P < 0.001). In cows with mycotoxicosis, simultaneous stimulation of antagonistic processes was noted: a pro-inflammatory process in the upregulation of TNF-α and IL-6, and an anti-inflammatory one in the upregulation of IL-10.

Conclusion

Despite the absorbent’s use and the resolution of clinical symptoms in Exp cows, high levels of IL-10 and Hp and IL-6 were maintained. Assessment of the level of cytokines and APP appears to be a useful and precise tool for the evaluation and application of the appropriate dose of the mycotoxin absorbent or the evaluation of its effectiveness.

Immunohistochemical Expression (IE) of Oestrogen Receptors in the Intestines of Prepubertal Gilts Exposed to Zearalenone

This study was conducted to determine if a low monotonic dose of zearalenone (ZEN) affects the immunohistochemical expression (IE) of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in the intestines of sexually immature gilts. Group C (control group; n = 18) gilts were given a placebo. Group E (experimental group; n = 18) gilts were dosed orally with 40 μg ZEN /kg body weight (BW), each day before morning feeding. Samples of intestinal tissue were collected post-mortem six times. The samples were stained to analyse the IE of ERα and Erβ in the scanned slides. The strongest response was observed in ERα in the duodenum (90.387-average % of cells with ERα expression) and in ERβ in the descending colon (84.329-average % of cells with ERβ expression); the opposite response was recorded in the caecum (2.484-average % of cells with ERα expression) and the ascending colon (2.448-average % of cells with ERα expression); on the first two dates of exposure, the digestive tract had to adapt to ZEN in feed. The results of this study, supported by a mechanistic interpretation of previous research findings, suggest that ZEN performs numerous functions in the digestive tract.

Microbiome-Driven Proline Biogenesis in Plants under Stress: Perspectives for Balanced Diet to Minimize Depression Disorders in Humans

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the overall global burden of mental disorders. An increasing number of studies have revealed that among 20 different amino acids, high proline consumption is a dietary factor with the strongest impact on depression in humans and animals, including insects. Recent studies acknowledged that gut microbiota play a key role in proline-related pathophysiology of depression. In addition, the multi-omics approach has alleged that a high level of metabolite proline is directly linked to depression severity, while variations in levels of circulating proline are dependent on microbiome composition. The gut-brain axis proline analysis is a gut microbiome model of studying depression, highlighting the critical importance of diet, but nothing is known about the role of the plant microbiome-food axis in determining proline concentration in the diet and thus about preventing excessive proline intake through food consumption. In this paper, we discuss the protocooperative potential of a holistic study approach combining the microbiota-gut-brain axis with the microbiota-plant-food-diet axis, as both are involved in proline biogenesis and metabolism and thus on in its effect on mood and cognitive function. In preharvest agriculture, the main scientific focus must be directed towards plant symbiotic endophytes, as scavengers of abiotic stresses in plants and modulators of high proline concentration in crops/legumes/vegetables under climate change. It is also implied that postharvest agriculture-including industrial food processing-may be critical in designing a proline-balanced diet, especially if corroborated with microbiome-based preharvest agriculture, within a circular agrifood system. The microbiome is suggested as a target for selecting beneficial plant endophytes in aiming for a balanced dietary proline content, as it is involved in the physiology and energy metabolism of eukaryotic plant/human/animal/insect hosts, i.e., in core aspects of this amino acid network, while opening new venues for an efficient treatment of depression that can be adapted to vast groups of consumers and patients. In that regard, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular biomarkers combined with rapid and non-destructive imaging technologies were also discussed in the scope of enhancing integrative science outcomes, agricultural efficiencies, and diagnostic medical precisions.

Exposure to Low Zearalenone Doses and Changes in the Homeostasis and Concentrations of Endogenous Hormones in Selected Steroid-Sensitive Tissues in Pre-Pubertal Gilts

This study was undertaken to analyze whether prolonged exposure to low-dose zearalenone (ZEN) mycotoxicosis affects the concentrations of ZEN, α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), and β-zearalenol (β-ZEL) in selected reproductive system tissues (ovaries, uterine horn-ovarian and uterine sections, and the middle part of the cervix), the hypothalamus, and pituitary gland, or the concentrations of selected steroid hormones in pre-pubertal gilts. For 42 days, gilts were administered per os different ZEN doses (MABEL dose [5 µg/kg BW], the highest NOAEL dose [10 µg/kg BW], and the lowest LOAEL dose [15 µg/kg BW]). Tissue samples were collected on days seven, twenty-one, and forty-two of exposure to ZEN (exposure days D1, D2, and D3, respectively). Blood for the analyses of estradiol and progesterone concentrations was collected in vivo on six dates at seven-day intervals (on analytical dates D1-D6). The analyses revealed that both ZEN and its metabolites were accumulated in the examined tissues. On successive analytical dates, the rate of mycotoxin accumulation in the studied tissues decreased gradually by 50% and proportionally to the administered ZEN dose. A hierarchical visualization revealed that values of the carry-over factor (CF) were highest on exposure day D2. In most groups and on most exposure days, the highest CF values were found in the middle part of the cervix, followed by the ovaries, both sections of the uterine horn, and the hypothalamus. These results suggest that ZEN, α-ZEL, and β-ZEL were deposited in all analyzed tissues despite exposure to very low ZEN doses. The presence of these undesirable compounds in the examined tissues can inhibit the somatic development of the reproductive system and compromise neuroendocrine coordination of reproductive competence in pre-pubertal gilts.

T-2 Toxin Caused Mice Testicular Inflammation Injury via ROS-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

T-2 toxin treatment causes male reproduction system dysfunction, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. In this research, male Kunming mice and TM4 cells were treated with varying concentrations of the T-2 toxin for evaluating the adverse effect of T-2 toxin on male reproductive function. MCC950 or NAC was used to block NLRP3 inflammasome activation and eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in the TM4 cell, respectively. The results showed that: (1) T-2 toxin caused testicular atrophy, destroyed the microstructure and ultrastructure of the testis, and caused sperm deformities; (2) T-2 toxin increased the content and gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 and decreased the IL-10 content and gene expression, causing testis and TM4 cell inflammatory injury; (3) T-2 toxin activated NLRP3 inflammasome in the testis and TM4 cells and caused ROS accumulation in the testis; (4) suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation using 20 nM MCC950 alleviated the TM4 cell inflammatory damage caused via the T-2 toxin; nevertheless, 20 nM MCC950 did not reduce ROS accumulation in TM4 cells; and (5) NAC relieved the inflammatory damage in TM4 cells by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, T-2 toxin caused testicular inflammation injury through ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation, resulting in male reproductive dysfunction.

Effect of the Combined Compound Probiotics with Glycyrrhinic Acid on Alleviating Cytotoxicity of IPEC-J2 Cells Induced by Multi-Mycotoxins

Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) are the three most prevalent mycotoxins, whose contamination of food and feed is a severe worldwide problem. In order to alleviate the toxic effects of multi-mycotoxins (AFB1 + DON + ZEA, ADZ) on inflammation and apoptosis in swine jejunal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2), three species of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pseudomonas lactis at 1 × 10⁵ CFU/mL, respectively) were mixed together to make compound probiotics (CP), which were further combined with 400 μg/mL of glycyrrhinic acid (GA) to make bioactive materials (CGA). The experiment was divided into four groups, i.e., the control, ADZ, CGA and ADZ + CGA groups. The results showed that ADZ decreased cell viability and induced cytotoxicity, while CGA addition could alleviate ADZ-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of IL-8, TNF-α, NF-Κb, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1 and ASCT2 genes, and protein expressions of TNF-α and Claudin-1 were significantly upregulated in ADZ group; while the mRNA abundances of IL-8, TNF-α, NF-Κb, Caspase-3, ASCT2 genes, and protein expressions of TNF-α and Claudin-1 were significantly downregulated in the ADZ + CGA group. In addition, the protein expressions of COX-2, ZO-1, and ASCT2 were significantly downregulated in the ADZ group, compared with the control group; whereas CGA co-incubation with ADZ could increase these protein expressions to recover to normal levels. This study indicated that CGA could alleviate cytotoxicity, apoptosis and inflammation in ADZ-induced IPEC-J2 cells and protect intestinal cell integrity from ADZ damages.

A doxycycline-inducible CYP3A4-Caco-2 cell line as a model for evaluating safety of aflatoxin B1 in the human intestine

Exposure of humans to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) via ingestion of contaminated agricultural products is a major concern for human health throughout the world because epoxidized AFB1, biotransformed from AFB1 by hepatic CYP3A4, is strongly hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic. Intestinal epithelial cells serve as a physical and physiological barrier against xenobiotics via their intercellular tight junction (TJ) seals and the metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4. However, the effect of AFB1 on the intestinal barrier remains unclear. Here, we investigated the influence of AFB1 on these physical and physiological intestinal barriers by means of an in vitro human intestinal model utilizing doxycycline-inducible CYP3A4-expressing Caco-2 cells, in which CYP3A4 activity is comparable to that in the adult human intestine. Cellular toxicity of AFB1 in induced Caco-2 cells (i.e., cells in which expression of CYP3A4 is induced by doxycycline) was approximately 5 times that of uninduced Caco-2 cells. Exposure to 16 µM AFB1 did not decrease the transepithelial electric resistance (TEER; a measure of TJ barrier integrity) in monolayers of uninduced Caco-2 cells to 95.8 % of that in vehicle-treated cells; in contrast, in induced Caco-2 cells, TEER was reduced to 28.8 %. Exposure to 16 µM AFB1 increased paracellular permeation of 4- and 20-kDa dextrans (paracellular permeation markers) through monolayers of induced Caco-2 cells to 5.4 and 5.2 times that through uninduced Caco-2 cells. These results together show that ingested AFB1 can modulate the intestinal barrier, and that inducible CYP3A4-expressing Caco-2 cells are a promising tool for evaluating the safety of food contaminants in the human intestine.