Humic substances (HS) from different sources have been evaluated to replace or reduce the use of growth promoter antibiotics (GPA) in the feeds of broiler chickens. The objective was to evaluate the growth performance, tibia measurements, nutrient balance, meat quality, and microbiological status of broiler fed with an HS extract (EHS) under ad libitum (ADLIB) or feed restriction (REST). Individually caged broilers (n = 180, 14–35 day of age) were assigned to a factorial arrangement of three dietary treatments: (1) positive control with bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and salinomycin; (2) negative control without BMD nor salinomycin, and (3) same as negative control with 0.25% EHS, and two feeding regimens 1) ADLIB or REST for 24 h on d 1, 7, and 14. Results were subjected to ANOVA. Positive control and EHS-fed broilers showed higher carcass yield (p < 0.05) and lower oocyst excretion (p < 0.01) compared to negative control birds. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) were higher in negative control and EHS-broilers compared to positive control (p < 0.01). In conclusion, higher carcass yield, lower C. perfringens and oocyst excretion were found in positive control and higher carcass yield, higher LAB and lower oocyst excretion were found in EHS-fed broilers. Broilers subjected to REST had reduced growth performance and meat quality. In conclusion, EHS could be used to increase the carcass yield and beneficial LAB in broilers.

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of three different biosorbents (banana peel, Pyracantha leaves, and Aloe powder) in removing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A noncommercial mycotoxin binder (zeolite) was used as a reference material. A laboratory model that simulated the in vivo conditions of the poultry gastrointestinal tract was utilized to prove the removal efficiency of the biosorbents when added to AFB1-contaminated diet (100 µg/kg). The concentration of AFB1 was determined using antibody-based immunoaffinity column and spectrofluorometry methodologies. Z potential (ζ), point of zero charge (pHpzc), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques were used to further characterize the biosorbents. The addition of the biosorbents (1.5%, w/w) to the diet significantly reduced the bioavailability of AFB1 in the intestinal section. The highest aflatoxin adsorption values were 69% and 70% using Aloe powder and zeolite, respectively. A moderate biosorption uptake of 46% was achieved using Pyracantha leaves. The biomaterial with the lowest removal capacity was banana peel (28%). In conclusion, Aloe powder could be used as an alternative to conventional systems for AFB1 removal.

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Flower-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were prepared via a simple aqueous precipitation strategy at room temperature. The as-grown nanostructures were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), spectrofluorometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activities of the ZnO nanostructures were further investigated using a highly toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus Link under in vitro and in situ conditions. The results showed that the A. flavus isolate was inhibited to various extents by different concentrations of ZnO nanostructures, but the best inhibitions occurred at 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mM in the culture media. At these concentrations, suppression of aflatoxin biosynthesis (99.7%) was also observed. Moreover, a reasonable reduction in the aflatoxin content (69%) was observed in maize grains treated with the lowest ZnO concentration that exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity in the liquid media. SEM micrographs clearly indicate multiple degenerative alterations in fungal morphology after treatment with ZnO such as damage of the tubular filaments, loss of hyphae shape, as well as hyphae rupture. These results suggest that flower-shaped ZnO nanostructures exhibit strong antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity with potential applications in the agro-food system.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the productive, carcass, and tibia mineralization responses in broiler chickens supplemented with a liquid extract of humic substances (HS) in the drinking water. Chicks were housed in holding cages from 8-42 days of age and were randomly assigned to one of five increasing HS levels in the drinking water (0, 161, 322, 483, and 644 µg/L). At 21 and 42 days, to obtain carcass and tibia measurements half of the broilers were slaughtered. ANOVA and linear regression were used to analyze the data. The HS chemical composition and flat structures were estimated. At 21 days, increasing levels of HS in the drinking water resulted in a cubic response on breast weight (p<0.05), tibia ashes percentage (p<0.05) and tibia Ca percentage, as well as a linear increasing response (p<0.05) on P percentage. HS elicited a quadratic response on the tibia DM percentage (p<0.05), Ca content (p<0.01), and P content (p<0.05) at 42 days.The optimal HS supplementation level to achieve the highest tibia DM percentage, Ca and P content were 345.00, 322.46, and 347.75 µg/L, respectively. Increasing HS levels also resulted in a cubic response in tibia Ca (p<0.05) and P percentage (p<0.01). In conclusions, HS supplementation in drinking water improved bone mineralization in broiler chickens at 21 and 42 days of age.