Effects of zearalenone in prepubertal gilts

Abstract

Prepubertal gilts were fed with a diet containing zearalenone (ZEA) in a concentration of 0.75 mg/kg for 21 days. The effects of this mycotoxin on morphologic aspects of the reproductive tract as well as on complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry analysis (SBA) and humoral immune response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were evaluated. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) on the reproductive tract weight, vulvar area, height of the epithelial cells of endometrial glands and uterine mucosa. These results showed the ability of this nonsteroidal mycotoxin in mimicking actions of 17β estradiol at the concentration of 0.75mg/kg. No changes in weight gain, CBC, SBA parameters and humoral response against SRBC were observed.

Evaluation of selected serum biochemical and haematological parameters in gilts exposed per os to 100 ppb of zearalenone

“…In the present experiment, no significant changes in RBC counts or parameters were noted in gilts administered ZEN at 100 ppb (equivalent to 5.0 μg ZEN/kg BW/day). Similar results were reported by Teixeira et al (2011) in piglets administered 750 ppb of ZEN for 21 days, and by Jiang et al (2010) in piglets exposed to a ZEN dose of 1 ppm. Zearalenone has a more uniform effect on white blood cells, and it usually increases the counts of WBC and/or individual granulocyte fractions (Maaroufi et al 1996, Abbes et al 2006, Boeira et al 2014.…”

“…Zearalenone has a more uniform effect on white blood cells, and it usually increases the counts of WBC and/or individual granulocyte fractions (Maaroufi et al 1996, Abbes et al 2006, Boeira et al 2014. No changes in WBC counts were observed in gilts exposed to ZEN (100 ppb), and similar results were reported in piglets by Teixeira et al (2011) andJiang et al (2010). In our study, an analysis of white blood cells revealed that ZEN significantly increased the counts of neutrophils and eosinophils.…”

Efficacy of a yeast additive to mitigate the effects of zearalenonecontaminated feed in gilts

“…Our results were corroborated by the study of Andretta et al (2010) and Teixeira et al (2011), who reported that ZEA do not significantly affect productivity of the animals.…”

“…In contrast, Teixeira et al (2011) found no significant difference between weight gained by the control group and the group consuming 0.75 mg/Kg ZEA. It was also reported that low doses of ZEA do not interfere with production efficiency, though it altered some tissues (Gajecka et al, 2016).…”

“…Once ingested, ZEA is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and biotransformed mainly in the liver into two metabolites, α-and β-zearalenol (Teixeira et al, 2011;Mostrom, 2012), which causes reproductive disorders and hyperestrogenic effects by binding to estrogenic receptors (Doll and Danicke, 2011). Hyperestrogenism is characterized by redness of the vulva, increased vulvar volume and possible rectal or vaginal prolapse due to relaxed sphincters.…”