Effects of Aflatoxins on Performance and Exocrine Pancreas of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate, on a weekly basis, the effects of aflatoxins on the activity of digestive enzymes (alpha-amylase, lipase, and trypsin) in the pancreas as well as on the performance and histology of pancreas in broiler chickens over the course of 42 days. One thousand and eighty 1-day-old male Cobb broilers were divided into four treatments with 18 replicates and 15 birds per replicate (i.e., 270 broilers per treatment). Treatments were established according to the amount of aflatoxins added to the diet, as follows: T1 = 0 mg of aflatoxins per kilogram of feed (mg/kg); T2 = 0.7 mg/kg; T3 = 1.7 mg/kg; and T4 = 2.8 mg/kg. Pancreas sample collection was performed from one bird out of each replicate at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of experiment, which yielded a total of 18 samples per treatment on each collection. Each sample was homogenized in distilled water, frozen in liquid nitrogen, lyophilized, and stored at -20 C until analysis. Performance parameters (body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion rate) were measured at 21, 35, and 42 days of experiment. At the end of the experiment (42 days), six birds from each treatment were randomly chosen for histologic evaluation of the pancreas. The presence of aflatoxins in the diet induced a negative effect on all performance parameters. The pancreatic activity of lipase and alpha-amylase were significantly increased in treatments T3 and T4, while the specific activity of trypsin was only affected during treatment T4. In addition, several histologic changes were observed in the pancreas of birds receiving aflatoxin-contaminated feed. Aflatoxins present in the feed determined an increase in the activity of pancreatic enzymes in broilers, affecting the digestibility of the diet, thereby leading to losses in performance and productivity.

Effect of esterified glucomannan on broilers exposed to natural mycotoxin-contaminated diets

“…It confirms that BWG is not solely influenced by FI under mycotoxicosis and therefore impact of different toxins on other factors such as nutrient absorption might indirectly affect BWG. This result is consistent with those reported by Marchioro et al (2013) that aflatoxin increased digestive enzymes of broilers, but did not improve their growth performance, indicating that absorption is affected by existence of mycotoxins in the diet. The improving role of 0.05% E-GM to neutralize the deleterious effects of mycotoxicosis on performance has been previously reported by Aravind et al (2003) and Modirsanei et al (2004).…”

Detection of enteric viruses in pancreas and spleen of broilers with runting-stunting syndrome (RSS)

“…Histological studies of pancreatic lesions in broilers with RSS revealed fibrosis, inflammation, vacuolar changes in the exocrine compartment, degeneration of acinar cells and loss of zymogen granules (Qamar et al 2013). In pigeons, exocrine pancreas disease produced voluminous, coloured faeces and weight loss (Amann et al 2006), and when aflatoxins are present in the diet, histological changes in the pancreas are observed, together with effects on performance and nutrient absorption (Marchioro et al 2013). Together, these findings establish a relationship between pancreatic damage and signs of malabsorption, and, more importantly, a relationship between pancreatic damage and RSS.…”

Effects of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) on hepatic gene expression in pigs and turkeys

“…Also, it is believed that aflatoxicosis results in reduced activity of several digestive enzymes such as amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and lipase, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Marchioro et al (2013) observed an increased pancreatic activity of lipase and α-amylase in birds fed 1.7 and 2.8 mg AF/kg diet, while the specific activity of trypsin was only negatively affected when birds were fed 2.8 mg AF/kg diet.…”

“…Gowda et al (2008) demonstrated that broilers fed 1 mg/kg of AFB1 for 21 days significantly lower feed intake, and weight gain, and increased relative liver weight. Marchioro et al (2013) reported that when broilers were fed up to 2.8 mg of AFB1/kg, there was a negative effect on all performance parameters. Also, pancreatic activity of lipase and α-amylase were significantly increased, affecting the digestibility of the diet, thus leading to losses in performance and productivity.…”