Mitigation Effects of Bentonite and Yeast Cell Wall Binders on AFB1, DON, and OTA Induced Changes in Laying Hen Performance, Egg Quality, and Health.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mycotoxin binders in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) on laying hens. Three hundred and sixty 26-week-old Roman laying hens were randomly allocated into four experimental groups with 10 replicates of nine birds each. The four groups received either a basal diet (BD; Control), a BD supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg AFB1 + 1.5 mg/kg DON + 0.12 mg/kg OTA (Toxins), a BD + Toxins with Toxo-HP binder (Toxins + HP), or a BD + Toxins with TOXO XL binder (Toxins + XL) for 12 weeks. Compared to the control, dietary supplementation of mycotoxins decreased (P < 0.10) total feed intake, total egg weight, and egg-laying rate, but increased feed/egg ratio by 2.5-6.1% and mortality during various experimental periods. These alterations induced by mycotoxins were alleviated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL binders (P < 0.10). Furthermore, dietary mycotoxins reduced (P < 0.05) eggshell strength by 12.3% and caused an accumulation of 249 µg/kg of DON in eggs at week 12, while dietary supplementation with TOXO HP or XL mitigated DON-induced changes on eggshell strength and prevented accumulation of DON in eggs (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary mycotoxins increased relative liver weight, but decreased spleen and proventriculus relative weights by 11.6-22.4% (P < 0.05). Mycotoxin exposure also increased alanine aminotransferase activity and reduced immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, and IgG concentrations in serum by 9.2-26.1% (P < 0.05). Additionally, mycotoxin exposure induced histopathological damage and reduced villus height, villus height/crypt depth, and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and (or) ileum (P < 0.05). Notably, most of these histological changes were mitigated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the mycotoxin binders TOXO HP and XL can help to mitigate the combined effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA on laying hen performance, egg quality, and health.

Effect of deoxynivalenol on the porcine acquired immune response and potential remediation by a novel modified HSCAS adsorbent.

The objective of this study was to determine the immunotoxic effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) in weaning piglets, and potential efficacy of a modified hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) adsorbent to reduce DON toxicity. Four groups of 21-day-old male piglets (n = 7/group) were fed a control diet or diet containing 1.0 or 3.0 mg DON/kg, or 3.0 mg DON/kg plus 0.05% modified HSCAS for 4 weeks. Compared to the control, the DON diets decreased serum porcine circovirus antibody titer and the dermal hypersensitivity response to OVA at day 21 or 28. DON also induced focal necrosis and proliferation of cortical lymphocytes and apoptosis and increased the total antioxidant capacity and reduced glutathione, protein carbonyl concentrations in thymus. DON increased thymus mRNA, protein and (or) enzyme levels, cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) and apoptosis-related genes (Caspase-3), while hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) decreased. Intriguingly, the modified HSCAS alleviated the DON-induced changes on serum antibody titer, and thymic histopathology, apoptosis, redox status, inflammation and apoptosis signaling. In conclusion, these findings help to explain the toxic effects and mechanisms of DON and demonstrated the modified HSCAS adsorbent could be used to reduce the toxicity of DON in weaning piglets.

[Dioxin Pollution and Occupational Inhalation Exposure of PCDD/Fs in Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator].

To assess the pollution levels, characteristics, and the pollution sources and occupational inhalation exposure of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs)in the workshops,ambient air samples in different types of incinerators of two municipal solid waste incinerators(MSWI) were collected and analyzed. The results showed that ① The I-TEQ concentration ranged from 0.034-2.152 pg·m-3in the two waste incineration plants, and the most sites' I-TEQ exceeded the ambient air quality standard. Besides, the I-TEQ concentration behind the incineration plant was higher than others. ② The dioxins in incineration plant were dominated by OCDD and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD. For MSWI A, the flue gas and the fly ash had major effect on PCDD/Fs, while the dioxins pollution in MSWI B was only affected by the fly ash. ③ Occupational inhalation exposure of PCDD/Fs was 0.01-1.10 pg·(kg·d)-1 in incineration plant, some occupational inhalation exposure values exceeded the evaluation standard, and the areas behind the incinerators were evaluated to have a high exposure risk.