Introduction
Approximately 65 to 70% of total costs in animal production are allocated to feeding. This is a fundamental pillar of livestock farming, making it crucial to maintain high-quality standards while avoiding contamination by harmful agents. Mycotoxins are one of the most prevalent families of contaminants in raw materials and feed, which, by altering the quality of the food and having significant negative effects on animal health, lead to serious economic losses in the poultry industry (Gómez et al., 2024).
Fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins produced by fungi of the Fusarium genus, such as F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. These compounds disrupt lipid metabolism in animals, inducing pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic and growth-inhibitory effects (Kulcsár et al., 2023; Ochieng et al., 2023). Specifically, fumonisin B1, predominantly produced by F. verticillioides, is classified as a possible carcinogen for humans (Zanon et al., 2023).
Mycotoxins negatively affect productive parameters in both broiler chickens and laying hens. Currently, the use of genetically selected breeds for high performance makes the birds more susceptible to even moderate or low doses of mycotoxins. Additionally, restrictions on the use of antibiotics increase their susceptibility to these toxins (Ochieng et al., 2023).
The organs most affected by fumonisins exposure are the liver, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Birds exposed to these toxic compounds suffer from growth retardation, diarrhea and kidney problems (Ochieng et al., 2021). Furthermore, fumonisins contamination is often associated with the presence of other mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), which can have additive and synergistic effects leading to severe immunosuppression. These multi-contamination scenarios make animals more vulnerable to other conditions, including joint disorders (Shanmugasundaram et al., 2022; Alharbi et al., 2024).
Mycotoxins prevention strategies
There are various control and prevention strategies to combat mycotoxin contamination in animal nutrition. The use of feed additives to address fumonisins contamination in poultry, aims to prevent the damage that these toxins cause to birds’ health, and avoid the negative impacts on productivity.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS is an anti-mycotoxin solution that includes three modes of action: adsorption, bioprotection and post-biotic effect. Its composition, based on a combination of clays, natural extracts and selected yeasts, has demonstrated high efficacy against fumonisins, among other mycotoxins, in in vitro and toxicokinetic studies. To demonstrate product in vivo efficacy in broilers, a study was conducted with the Federal University of Santa Maria – Samitec, in Brazil.
Experimental design
The aim of the study was to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS in broiler chickens exposed to a diet contaminated with fumonisin B1 (FB1).
Figure 1. Experimental design.
The experimental design consisted of three groups: one with a control diet free of mycotoxins, a second group that received a diet contaminated at critical levels with fumonisin B1, and the third group exposed to this contaminated diet while receiving a dosage of 2.5 kg/ton of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
Throughout the study, the body weights of the animals and their average daily gain were monitored weekly. At the end of the study, the sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in the blood was measured, the relative liver weight of the animals was recorded, and histopathological analyses were conducted at the intestinal level.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS reduced the biomarker of exposure to fumonisins in broilers
The sphinganine/sphingosine ratio is considered the most reliable exposure biomarker for determining fumonisin toxicity in animals, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2018). The presence of these mycotoxins in feed inhibits ceramide synthase, leading to an increase in sphinganine concentration in the blood. By monitoring this ratio in the birds, reliable information regarding the exposure to fumonisins can be obtained.
In this study, birds exposed to BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS showed a reduction of up to 3.8% in this blood biomarker, confirming its effectiveness in broilers exposed to a diet contaminated by fumonisin B1.
Figure 2. Sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in broilers exposed to FB1 and animals exposed to FB1 + BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS enhanced the productive parameters in broilers challenged by fumonisin B1
Regarding productive parameters, both the body weight of the animals and their average daily gain were affected by the presence of fumonisin B1 in the diet. The body weight of the animals was reduced by up to 4.2% in comparison to the control group, and the inclusion of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS improved this parameter by 0.7%.
In terms of average daily weight gain, the group that consumed the contaminated diet showed a decrease of 5.9% compared to the control group. However, with the administration of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS, this effect was counteracted, resulting in a 2.9% increase in average daily weight gain.
Figure 3. Productive parameters in broilers not exposed to mycotoxins (control), exposed to FB1, and exposed to FB1 + BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS ameliorated liver damage caused by fumonisin B1 in broilers
Exposure of broilers to the fumonisin B1-contaminated diet resulted in a significant 12.9% increase in the liver weight relative. This increase is caused by the inflammatory effect of these substances, with the liver, along with the gastrointestinal tract, being the primary target organs. Hepatic damage represents a significant pathological alteration as it is one of the key metabolic organs in poultry.
Through the administration of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS, a significant 6.1% reduction in liver size was observed, indicating a potent anti-inflammatory effect of the product, which helped to reverse the liver damage caused by fumonisin B1 and restore its functionality.
Figure 4. Relative liver weight in broilers not exposed to mycotoxins (control), exposed to FB1, and exposed to FB1 + BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS counteracted intestinal damage caused by fumonisin B1 in broilers
The study included the histopathological analysis of the broilers at the intestinal level, specifically in the jejunal region. Different parameters were assessed, such as the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), the ratio between these two parameters (VH/CD), and the total intestinal absorption surface area.
Figure 5. Histopathological results of the jejunum in broilers not exposed to mycotoxins (control), exposed to FB1, and exposed to FB1 + BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
The presence of fumonisin B1 in the feed resulted in a decrease in villus height, an increase in crypt depth, and, consequently, a reduction of the intestinal absorption surface area in the animals. However, in the group of birds that received BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS along with the contaminated diet, a complete alleviation of these pathological effects was observed. Regarding villus height, an increase of 16.4% was observed, while crypt depth was reduced by up to 7.7%. As a result, the ratio between these two parameters improved significantly, leading to a 14.6% increase in the total absorption surface area, which completely counteracted the effect of the contaminated diet, which had previously reduced this parameter by 13.3%.
Figure 6. Histopathological images of the jejunum in animals not exposed to mycotoxins (control), exposed to FB1, and exposed to FB1 + BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS.
The reduction in intestinal absorption surface area caused by exposure to fumonisin B1 significantly compromises the animals’ growth, thereby affecting their performance. With the effect of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS at the intestinal level, this digestive alteration in broilers is reversed, ensuring their productive efficiency.
Conclusions
Fumonisins are highly prevalent mycotoxins in raw materials and feed, negatively impacting the health of poultry and, consequently, their productivity, leading to severe economic losses. Conducting in vivo studies is a crucial tool for assessing the animals’ exposure to these mycotoxins and evaluating effective nutritional strategies to mitigate their effects on poultry.
In this study, conducted in collaboration with the Federal University of Santa Maria – SAMITEC Institute (Brazil), it was demonstrated that BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS is a highly effective solution in mitigating the challenge posed by fumonisins in broilers. BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® PLUS improved blood biomarkers and productive parameters in the animals, restored liver integrity, and counteracted the damage caused at the intestinal level, thus positioning itself as a comprehensive solution for protecting animal welfare and the profitability of poultry farms.
