Aflatoxicosis: Lessons from Toxicity and Responses to Aflatoxin B1 in Poultry

Abstract

This review is a comprehensive introduction to the effects of poultry exposure to the toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The relationship between AFB1 sensitivity and metabolism, major direct and indirect effects of AFB1, recent studies of gene expression and transcriptome responses to exposure, and mitigation strategies to reduce toxicity are discussed. Exposure to AFB1 primarily occurs by consumption of contaminated corn, grain or other feed components. Low levels of residual AFB1 in poultry feeds can cause reduction in growth, feed conversion, egg production, and compromised immune functions, resulting in significant economic costs to producers. Thus, AFB1 acts as a "force multiplier" synergizing the adverse effects of microbial pathogens and other agents, and factors detrimental to poultry health. Domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are one of the most sensitive animals known to AFB1 due, in large part, to a combination of efficient hepatic bioactivation by cytochromes P450 1A5 and 3A37, and deficient hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-mediated detoxification. Because of their sensitivity, turkeys are a good model to investigate chemopreventive treatments and feed additives for their ability to reduce AFB1 toxicity. Transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) of turkey poults (liver and spleen) has identified AFB1-induced gene expression changes in pathways of apoptosis, carcinogenesis, lipid regulation, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and antigen presentation. Current research focuses on further identifying the molecular mechanisms OPEN ACCESSAgriculture 2015, 5 743 underlying AFB1 toxicity with the goal of reducing aflatoxicosis and improving poultry health.

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“…Turkeys, ducks, and quail are considered more sensitive to aflatoxins than chicken, but the effects in the animals are basically the same (Monson, Coulombe, and Reed 2015). The effects of aflatoxins on poultry production have been reviewed (Feddern et al 2013;Monson, Coulombe, and Reed 2015), showing an association with reduced egg production, reduced egg weight, and increased poultry mortality due to renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and immunological impacts.…”

“…The effects of aflatoxins on poultry production have been reviewed (Feddern et al 2013;Monson, Coulombe, and Reed 2015), showing an association with reduced egg production, reduced egg weight, and increased poultry mortality due to renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and immunological impacts. However, the data on how aflatoxin affects weight gain in poultry are not consistent, and some experiments with aflatoxins up to 2.5 ppm have failed to show effects (Dersjant-Li, Verstegen, and Gerrits 2003).…”

Biochemical and Histopathological Study of Aflatoxicosis on Ross 308 Broiler Chicks

“…Resistance to aflatoxin in chickens is higher than in other animals and susceptibility varies with breed, species, age, dose and length of exposure (Monson et al, 2015).…”

“…Aflatoxins are the most intensively researched group of mycotoxins, and the effects of aflatoxins on broiler productivity have been previously reviewed (Kensler et al, 2011;Yunus et al, 2011;Monson et al, 2015).…”

Broiler Tavuklarda Aflatoksin ile Kontamine Diyette Ticari Toksin Bağlayıcı, Doğal Probiyotik Türleri, Maya Hücre Duvarı ve Aluminosilikatın GOT2 ve CYP450 1A5 Gen Ekspresyonları İle Karaciğer Enzimlerinin Serum Konsantrasyonları Üzerine Etkisi

“…Aflatoxin and Aflatoxicosis due to the consumption of contaminated diets in poultry are accompanied with symptoms such as decreased performance, liver damages and immunosuppression [2] . The investigations revealed that Cytochrome P450 enzyme 1 produced by CYP1A5 and CYP3A37 genes is specifically responsible for the conversion of aflatoxin to the other metabolites at in in vitro and in vivo conditions [3,4] . CYP450 1A5 enzyme has high affinity for binding and metabolizing the metabolites of aflatoxin as well as the detoxification of AFM 1 [5] .…”