Effects of licorice extract, probiotic, toxin binder and poultry litter biochar on performance, immune function, blood indices and liver histopathology of broilers exposed to aflatoxin-B1

Abstract

Probiotics, toxin binders, and plant extracts improve health and immunity of broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin. The effects of licorice extract ( LE ), Protexin probiotic, toxin binder (Agrabound), and poultry litter biochar ( PLB ) in experimental aflatoxicosis were evaluated. In a completely randomized design, 504 broiler chickens were allotted to 7 treatments and 6 replicates with 12 broiler chickens in each. The experimental groups were as follows: T1) basal diet ( B ) without any feed additive or aflatoxin B 1 ( AFB 1 ); T2) B + 0.5 mg AFB 1 /kg; T3) T2 + 3 g LE/kg; T4) T2 + 6 g LE/kg; T5) T2 + 0.5 g Protexin/kg; T6) T2 + 1 g toxin binder/kg, and T7) T2 + 5 g/kg PLB. Broiler chickens fed AFB diet (T2) had lower body weight gain at the end of grower period and higher feed conversion ratio at the end of the finisher period, whereas inclusion of LE, probiotic, toxin binder, or PLB restores body weight of broiler chickens to that of the control group. Aflatoxicosis decreased total protein, TG, albumin, Ca, and P concentrations and greater uric acid concentration in broiler chickens as compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). As compared with the T2 group, inclusion of 3 mg LE/kg increased serum total protein; inclusion of 3 mg LE/kg, probiotic, and toxin binder increased TG; inclusion of 3 and 6 mg LE/kg, probiotic, and PLB increased serum albumin; and the whole additive decreased serum uric acid of broiler chickens comparing with the control group. Lymphocyte percentage, avian influenza antibody titer, thymus relative weight, and immune response to phytohemagglutinin were decreased in the T2 group, whereas heterophil percentage and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were increased ( P < 0.05). Aflatoxicosis increased breast meat malondialdehyde concentration, liver enzymes activities, and number of fat vacuoles ( P < 0.05). As compared with the T2 group, all of the additives lowered alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase activities, breast meat malondialdehyde concentration, and liver pathological damages ( P < 0.05). It can be concluded that all of the additives are capable to decrease the negative impact of AFB 1 on broiler chickens' performance, blood indices, and immunity.

Mycotoxins binder supplementation alleviates aflatoxin B1 toxic effects on the immune response and intestinal barrier function in broilers

“…As one form of AF, aflatoxin B 1 ( AFB 1 ) is well known as the potent and dangerous teratogen, carcinogen classified in group 1 by IARC and immune-suppressor produced naturally by Aspergillus flavus ( A. flavus ) or Aspergillus parasiticus ( A. parasiticus ) for human and animals ( Fouad et al, 2019 ; Jallow et al, 2021 ). Chicken exposed to ABF 1 is reported to depress feed intake, growth performance, immune response, damage organs, disturb the balance of gut microbiota, and increase mortality ( Williams et al, 2011 ; Chang et al, 2020 ; Rashidi et al, 2020 ). Consequently, income of poultry producer and human health suffered hazard risk from AFB 1 ( Khlangwiset et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Consequently, income of poultry producer and human health suffered hazard risk from AFB 1 ( Khlangwiset et al, 2011 ). Organ damage induced by AF common occurs in liver ( Rashidi et al, 2020 ), kidney ( Śliżewska et al, 2019 ), reproductive organs ( Doerr and Ottinger, 1980 ; Ortatatli et al, 2002 ), digestive tract ( Feng et al, 2017 ; Poloni et al, 2020 ), pancreas ( Ortatatli et al, 2002 ), immune organs ( Peng et al, 2014 ; Rasouli-Hiq et al, 2017 ), and bones ( Raju et al, 2005 ) in poultry species. And the degree of organ damage depends on the degree of contamination and the susceptibility of the bird species to AFB 1 .…”

Supplementation of probiotics in water beneficial growth performance, carcass traits, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens

“…Probiotics are usually produced in the feed industry through the processes of isolation, cultivation, and fermentation and can be used as additives in feed production [ 8 , 9 ]. Multiple works of literature have reported the diverse benefits of probiotic supplementation in breeding commercial animals, including the increase in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain, egg/milk yield, and the reduction in morbidity and mortality [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Probiotics advance the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and FCR; improve the gastrointestinal microecological environment; and enhance the internal immunity as well as antioxidant capacity, thereby inhibiting the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria in broiler chickens [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Effects of a probiotic-fermented herbal blend on the growth performance, intestinal flora and immune function of chicks infected with Salmonella pullorum

“…Herbs such as Astragalus, Panax notoginseng , licorice and chickpeas have been popular as traditional medicine and health food in China for over 1,000 years and are known to protect the intestinal mucosa, improve energy metabolism, reduce pathological damage to organs, promote gastrointestinal digestion and absorption and enhance growth and immunity ( Qiu et al., 2007 ; Wu, 2018a ; Rashidi et al., 2020 ). However, when added to feed, the cell wall of herbs interferes the release of the functional compounds, such as polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, isoflavones, coumarins, alkaloids and other ingredients, and lowers the efficacy of the herbs ( Zhang et al., 2018 ; Wang et al., 2019a ).…”