Sodium Salicylate as Feed Additive in Broilers: Absence of Toxicopathological Findings.

Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in animal production have been related to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria. The AGP ban in many countries has highlighted the growing need for alternatives for feed additives. Considering the non-antibiotic anti-inflammatory theory of AGPs, chicks received three different doses of sodium salicylate (SS) in feed (10, 30, 90 mg/kg), basal diet (BD) was used as a negative control, and zinc bacitracin (ZB) was used as a positive control. Chicks were individually housed to increase the accuracy of the dose of SS ingested. Performance parameters and footpad dermatitis were evaluated weekly, while haematology, serum biochemistry, histopathology, and tibial dyschondroplasia were determined on Days 21 and 42. A linear dose-dependent decrease in haemoglobin concentration was observed, but the values were within the normal reference range. Among all the other evaluated parameters, no relevant differences between treatments were observed; however, not even the AGP group performed better than the control group. It is possible that the conditions in which the birds were raised were not stressful enough to allow for anti-inflammatories to demonstrate their beneficial effects on performance. Studies should be conducted where the animals are exposed to commercial conditions, as the presence of natural stressors could allow a better evaluation of the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory agent as a growth promoter.

Determination of serum aflatoxin B1-lysine to evaluate the efficacy of an aflatoxin-adsorbing feed additive in pigs fed an aflatoxin B1-contaminated diet.

In this study, serum aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-lysine was determined in order to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) in pigs fed AFB1. Twenty-four 49-day-old crossbred barrows were maintained in individual cages and allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. A completely randomized design was used with six animals assigned to each of four dietary treatments for 21 days as follows: (A) basal diet (BD), (B) BD supplemented with 0.5 % HSCAS, (C) BD supplemented with 1.1 mg/kg AFB1, and (D) BD supplemented with 0.5 % HSCAS and 1.1 mg/kg AFB1. HSCAS was able to alleviate the toxic effects of AFB1 on pigs and reduce (P < 0.05) the levels of serum AFB1-lysine. Cumulative reductions of adduct yield values, calculated through the equation [(pg AFB1-lysine/mg albumin) / (µg AFB1/kg body weight)], were 53.0, 62.8, and 72.1 after 7, 14, and 21 days of oral exposure, respectively. AFB1-lysine has potential as an AFB1-specific biomarker for diagnostic purposes and for evaluating the efficacy of chemoprotective interventions in pigs.

Relação entre níveis de fumonisina B1 e ácido fólico em farinha de milho e a concentração de ácido fólico no soro humano / Relationship between fumonisin B1 and folic acid levels in foods and the folic acid concentration in human serum

Neste trabalho foram determinados os níveis de ácido fólico e de fumonisina B1 (FB1) em farinha de milho consumida por 24 voluntários residentes em um campus universitário no estado de São Paulo, bem como sua relação com as concentrações de ácido fólico sérico nos indivíduos. As análises de ácido fólico e de FB1 em farinha de milho foram realizadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE), enquanto a determinação de ácido fólico sérico foi feita por kit de imunoensaio. Detectou-se a FB1 em 100% das amostras de farinha de milho, em níveis que variaram de 142 a 3.037 µg kg-1 (média: 738 ± 591 µg kg-1). As concentrações de ácido fólico nas amostras de farinha de milho ficaram entre < 0,3 µg kg-1 (limite de quantificação) e 1.705 µg kg-1, com média de 713 ± 435 µg kg-1, o que representa 47% do limite mínimo exigido pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) para farinhas de milho comercialmente disponíveis. Nas amostras de soro humano, os níveis de ácido fólico variaram de 6,7 a 24,0 ng mL-1 (média: 13,4 ± 5,4 ng mL-1). Não houve correlação (p < 0,05) entre os níveis de ácido fólico no soro dos indivíduos e as concentrações de FB1 ou ácido fólico nas amostras de farinha de milho. Outros estudos são necessários para estimar a ingestão total de FB1 por meio da dieta para averiguar os efeitos das fumonisinas sobre a absorção de ácido fólico nos indivíduos avaliados.(AU)

In the present study, folic acid and fumonisin B1 (FB1) levels were determined in corn flour consumed by 24 volunteers, residents in a university campus in São Paulo State, as well as its relationship with folic acid in serum of individuals. Analyses of folic acid and FB1 in corn flour were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while the determination of folic acid in serum was accomplished using an immunoassay kit. FB1 was detected in 100% of corn samples, at levels ranging from 142 to 3,037 µg kg-1 (which means: 738 ± 591 µg kg-1). The concentrations of folic acid in corn flour samples ranged from < 0.3 µg kg-1 (limit of quantification) to 1,705 µg kg-1, with a mean of 713 ± 435 µg kg-1, which represents 47% of the minimum required by National Agency of Health Surveillance (ANVISA) for corn flour commercially available. The levels of folic acid in human serum samples ranged from 6.7 to 24.0 ng mL-1 (meaning: 13.4 ± 5.4 ng mL-1). No correlations were observed (p < 0.05) between the folic acid levels in serum of individuals and the concentrations of FB1 or folic acid in corn flour samples. Further studies are needed to estimate the total intake of FB1 in the diet to assess the effects fumonisins on the absorption of folic acid in the individuals evaluated.(AU)