Aflatoxins: Their Toxic Effect on Poultry and Recent Advances in Their Treatment

Abstract

About 25% of total agriculture products are contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs) and other mycotoxins in the world especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America, completely losing about 2-3% of food values and thus causing economic losses to farmers. The mycotoxin contaminations of food supply chain impact on human and animal health primarily, whereas production is the second major concern especially in developing countries. Aflatoxins (colorless to pale yellow colored crystals) are the most studied (>5000 research articles) group of mycotoxins. AFs impose major problems regarding health, growth, FCR (feed conversion ratio), etc. in the subtropical zone. In the agricultural commodities, the prevention of fungal contamination during plant growth, harvesting and storage seems to be the most effective and rational precautionary measures to avoid mycotoxins. Activated charcoal; aluminosilicates; polymers, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidones and cholestyramine; and yeast, yeast-based products, and humic acid have been studied extensively with promising but variable results. A live yeast, named Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), has also been observed to lighten the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis in poultry. These beneficial effects were later attributed to glucomannan, being derived from the cell wall of S. cerevisiae.

AflatoxinB1 (AFB1) and its toxic effect on the broilers intestine: A review

“…Feedstuffs containing AFB 1 are often found in broiler farming, which are the basic reasons that reduce the chicken meat quality and profitability (Al‐Shawabkeh et al., 2009 ; Hussain et al., 2010 ). This affects hatchability, chick growth rate, vaccination efficiency, feed intake, growth rate, and susceptibility to diseases in broilers (Sur et al., 2011 ; Ditta et al., 2018 ; Ismail et al., 2020 ). This results in large losses in the broiler farming industry every year.…”

Aflatoxin's Toll on Health: Insights into Human and Animal Impact

“…Though they are susceptible if toxic diets are fed for extended periods, adult cattle, sheep, and goats are rather resistant to the acute phase of the disease. All examined animal species have demonstrated some degree of vulnerability in experiments (Allah Ditta et al, 2019). Aflatoxin dietary quantities that are often tolerated in animals include dogs, cats, cattle, and weaner pigs, 100 ppb in calves, < 50 ppb in dogs, < 100 ppb in calves, and < 300 ppb in cattle (Jallow et al, 2021).…”

Nutritional Strategies to Improve Meat Quality and Composition in the Challenging Conditions of Broiler Production: A Review

“…Aflatoxins Highly absorbable (80 to 90%) [74] Induced mild negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract [75] Induced oxidative stress, damaged liver, damaged RNA and DNA, and suppressed immune system [76] Deoxynivalenol Low absorption rate [77] Increased intestinal permeability [ Mycotoxins with high absorption and accumulation rates can remain in edible tissues (meat and liver). Hort et al [93] showed that fumonisins were detected in the liver and fillet muscles.…”