Evaluation of a Bacillus -Based Direct-Fed Microbial on Aflatoxin B1 Toxic Effects, Performance, Immunologic Status, and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Broiler Chickens.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial Bacillus direct-fed microbial (DFM) on aflatoxin B1 toxic effects, performance, and biochemical and immunologic parameters in broiler chickens. Ninety 1-day-old Cobb 500 male broiler chicks were raised in floor pens for a period of 21 days. Chicks were neck-tagged, individually weighed, and randomly allocated to one of three groups: Negative control (basal feed), aflatoxin B1 (basal feed + 2 ppm AFB1), and DFM (basal feed + 2 ppm AFB1 + Bacillus direct-fed microbial). Each group had three replicates of 10 chickens (n = 30/group). Body weight and body weight gain were calculated weekly, while feed intake and feed conversion ratio were determined when broilers were 21 days old. On day 21, all chickens were bled, gastrointestinal samples were collected, and spleen and bursa of Fabricius were weighed. This study confirmed that 2 ppm of AFB1 causes severe detrimental effects on performance, biochemical parameters, and immunologic parameters, generating hepatic lesions in broiler chickens (P < 0.05). However, it was also observed that DFM supplementation provided beneficial effects that might help to improve gut barrier function, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, as well as humoral and cellular immunomodulation. The results of the present study suggest that this Bacillus-DFM added at a concentration of 106 spores/gram of feed can be used to counteract the negative effects that occur when birds consume diets contaminated with AFB1, showing beneficial effects on performance parameters, relative organ weights, hepatic lesions, immune response, and serum biochemical variables. The addition of this Bacillus-DFM might mitigate and decrease aflatoxicosis problems in the poultry industry, improving food security, alleviating public health problems, and providing economic benefits. Future studies are needed to fully elucidate the specific mechanisms by which this Bacillus-DFM counteracts the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1.

Evaluación de un producto comercial adicionado en el alimento elaborado con Bacillus sobre los efectos tóxicos de la aflatoxina B1, el rendimiento productivo, el estado inmunológico y los parámetros bioquímicos en suero de pollos de engorde. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un producto comercial de Bacillus adicionado al alimento (DFM) sobre los efectos tóxicos de la aflatoxina B1, el rendimiento productivo, así como en los parámetros bioquímicos e inmunológicos en pollos de engorde. Noventa pollitos de engorde machos Cobb 500 de un día de edad fueron criados en corrales en piso por un período de 21 días. Los pollos se etiquetaron en el cuello, se pesaron individualmente y se asignaron al azar en uno de tres grupos: control negativo (alimentación basal); aflatoxina B1 (alimentación basal + 2 ppm de AFB1) y DFM (alimentación basal + 2 ppm de AFB1 + producto comercial de Bacillus). Cada grupo tenía tres réplicas de 10 pollos (n = 30/grupo). El peso corporal (BW) y la ganancia de peso corporal (BWG) se calcularon semanalmente, mientras que la ingesta de alimento (FI) y la conversión alimentaria (FCR) se determinaron cuando los pollos tenían 21 días de edad. Al día 21 de edad, todos los pollos se sangraron, se recolectaron muestras gastrointestinales y se pesaron el bazo y la bolsa de Fabricio. Este estudio confirmó que 2 ppm de aflatoxina B1 causan efectos detrimentales graves sobre los parámetros productivos, bioquímicos e inmunológicos, generando lesiones hepáticas en pollos de engorde (P < 0.05). Sin embargo, también se observó que la suplementación con el producto comercial de Bacillus proporcionó efectos benéficos que podrían ayudar a mejorar la función de la barrera intestinal, las actividades antiinflamatorias y antioxidantes, así como la inmunomodulación humoral y celular. Los resultados del presente estudio sugieren que este producto comercial de Bacillus agregado a una concentración de 106 esporas/gramo de alimento puede usarse para contrarrestar los efectos negativos que se producen cuando las aves consumen dietas contaminadas con aflatoxina B1, mostrando efectos beneficiosos en los parámetros productivos, peso relativo de órganos, lesiones hepáticas, respuesta inmune y variables bioquímicas séricas. La adición de este Bacillus podría mitigar y disminuir los problemas de aflatoxicosis en la industria avícola, mejorando la seguridad alimentaria, los problemas de salud pública y los beneficios económicos. Se requieren estudios futuros para dilucidar completamente los mecanismos específicos por los cuales este producto comercial con Bacillus contrarresta los efectos tóxicos de la aflatoxina B1.

Evaluation of Ascorbic Acid or Curcumin Formulated in a Solid Dispersion on Salmonella Enteritidis Infection and Intestinal Integrity in Broiler Chickens.

Two experimental models were conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) or curcumin formulated in a solid dispersion (SD-CUR) as prophylactic or therapeutic alternatives to prevent or control S. Enteritidis (SE) infection in broiler chickens. In the prophylactic model, dietary administration of AA showed a significant reduction in SE counts in crop compared to the positive control (PC) group (p < 0.05), whereas in cecal tonsils (CT), SD-CUR significantly reduced SE recovery. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in chickens supplemented with AA or SD-CUR, and total intestinal IgA levels were significantly lower in both treatments when compared to the PC group. Serum fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) levels were reduced by SD-CUR compared to PC, while AA presented significantly lower total aerobic bacteria. In the therapeutic model, only the dietary administration of AA significantly decreased SE in crop and CT on days 3 and 10 post-challenge. FITC-d levels were significantly lower in both treated groups in comparison to PC, but IgA levels were significantly reduced only by AA. The results suggest that dietary AA and SD-CUR have different modes of action to reduce SE intestinal colonization in two different challenge models in broiler chickens.

Evaluation of Cellulosic Polymers and Curcumin to Reduce Aflatoxin B1 Toxic Effects on Performance, Biochemical, and Immunological Parameters of Broiler Chickens.

To evaluate the effect of cellulosic polymers (CEL) and curcumin (CUR) on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxic effects on performance, and the biochemical and immunological parameters in broiler chickens, 150 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five groups with three replicates of 10 chickens per pen: Negative Control (feed); AFB1 (feed + 2 ppm AFB1); CUR (feed + 2 ppm AFB1 + Curcumin 0.2%); CEL (feed + 2 ppm AFB1 + 0.3% Cellulosic polymers); and, CEL + CUR (feed + 2 ppm AFB1 + 0.3% Cellulose polymers + 0.2% Curcumin). Every week, body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. On day 21, liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and intestine from five broilers per replicate per group were removed to obtain relative organ weight. Histopathological changes in liver, several biochemical biomarkers, antibody titers, and muscle and skin pigmentation were also recorded. Dietary addition of 0.3% CEL and 0.2% CUR separately significantly diminished some of the toxic effects resulting from AFB1 on performance parameters, relative organs weight, histopathology, immune response, and serum biochemical variables (P < 0.05); however, the combination of CUR and CEL showed a better-integrated approach for the management of poultry health problems that are related with the consumption of AFB1, since they have different mechanisms of action with different positive effects on the responses of broiler chickens.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial and intestinal integrity properties of boric acid in broiler chickens infected with Salmonella enteritidis: Proof of concept.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of boric acid (BA) on Salmonella enteritidis colonization, intestinal permeability, total intestinal IgA levels, and cecal microbiota composition in broiler chickens. For this purpose, sixty day-old-chicks were randomly allocated to one of two groups: 1) non-treated control group and 2) 0.1% (w/w) BA in feed. All chicks were challenged with 104 cfu of S. Enteritidis per bird at 1-d old. On day 3 and 10 post-challenge, samples of crop and ceca-cecal tonsils (CCT) were aseptically collected to evaluate overall aerobic and lactic acid bacteria, as well as S. Enteritidis recovery. Blood and intestinal samples were also collected to evaluate intestinal permeability and total intestinal IgA production, respectively. On day 10 post-challenge, the concentration of S. Enteritidis in crop and CCT significantly decreased (P < .05) by 2.60 log10 and 5.26 log10, respectively, in the BA group compared to the control group. Furthermore, chickens treated with 0.1% BA had a significant reduction in serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) concentration and lower total intestinal IgA levels when compared to the control group. Interestingly, in the microbiota analysis, only the abundance of Actinobacteria phylum was significantly lower in the BA group in comparison with the control group and significant differences in beta diversity were also observed between comparing groups. The results of the present study suggest that BA could maintain intestinal homeostasis, as well as the balance in the microbiota due to its effectiveness in controlling S. Enteritidis infection.