Immunological status of the progeny of breeder hens kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)- and aflatoxin B₁(AFB₁)-contaminated feeds

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the immunological status of progeny of hens kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)- and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-contaminated feed. For this purpose, White Leghorn (WL) layer breeder hens (40-weeks-of-age) were divided into six groups (A-F). Hens in Group A were fed a commercial layer ration while those in Groups B and C were kept on a diet amended with 3 and 5 mg OTA/Kg, respectively. Group D was fed a ration containing 5 mg AFB(1)/Kg, while hens in Groups E and F were kept on feed amended with OTA and AFB(1) each. All feedings were for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Fertile eggs were set for hatching on a weekly basis to obtain progeny of each week separately. At 14 days-of-age, subsets of progeny were euthanized and the frequency of immunoglobulin(s)-bearing cells in their spleen and bursa of Fabricius assessed; at 16 days-of-age, other chicks in each set were utilized to determine their lymphoblastogenic responses against phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P). At 30 days-of-age, the final sub-set of chicks/group was euthanized and their peritoneal macrophages harvested for measurements of phagocytic potential and nitrite production. Relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and of the spleen were significantly lower in the progeny of hens fed mycotoxin-contaminated diets for 14 and 21 days. The frequencies of IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-bearing cells were also significantly lower in the bursa of Fabricius and spleen of progeny chicks obtained from hens fed the OTA + AFB(1) mixed diet. Feeding contaminated diets to breeder hens also resulted in significantly lower responses to PHA-P. In addition, the percentages of peritoneal macrophages displaying phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells (SRBC), the number of SRBC/macrophage, and nitrite production were each significantly lower in cells from progeny chicks from OTA- and AFB(1)-fed hens. The findings of the present study indicated there were severe immunosuppressive effects in progeny chicks as a result of exposure of their parent hens to OTA and AFB(1) either alone or in combination. These studies provide emphasis for the need for mycotoxin regulation policy with respect to the ingredients used in poultry feed, since it is clear that feeding multi-mycotoxin-contaminated diets to breeder hens will almost certainly result in the hatching of manifestly unhealthy chicks.

In Vivo Assessment of Gamma Rays, Electron-beam Irradiation plus a Commercial Toxin Binder (Milbond-TX) As an Anti-Aflatoxin B1 in a Chicken Model

“…In this paper, important decreases were observed in SRBCs, WBC, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and haematocrit counts (P<0.05; Table 4). Moreover, these findings are consistent with other reports, which illustrated the supportive impacts of AF on haematopoiesis and immune responses [14,16]. Our findings sustained statement of above studies, and the decrease in SRBCs and WBC counts proposed that the toxin elicited inflammatory response of the chicks [14].…”

“…The liver is considered the target organ for AF, because it is the organ where most AFs are bioactivated to the reactive 8, 9-epoxide form, known to bind DNA and proteins, damaging the liver structures and increasing the liver's weight [3]. Antibody production was suppressed against both T-dependent, such as WBC and SRBCs antigens, and that this suppression was observed during the secondary response and thus suggests a defect in the clonal expansion of antigen-specific heterophil and lymphocyte after antigen re-exposure [14]. In addition, AF exposure has been shown to reduce resistance to various bacterial, viral, and protozoan diseases in poultry [15].…”

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

“…In ovo AFB1-driven immunosuppression has the potential to increase the incidence of infectious disease in young poultry and negatively affect their health and productivity. Whether in ovo injection or maternal feeding, chickens exposed to AFB1 during embryogenesis have compromised cellular and humoral immune functions post hatch [160,161,211,217,218]. 1 …”

In vitrostudy of AFB1and AFM1effects on human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T-cell model

“…AFB 1 has been demonstrated to exert immunetoxic effects on cell-mediated immunity by reducing the number of circulating lymphocytes (Bondy and Pestka, 2000), or by alteration of NK cells activity and cytokine expression (Methenitou et al, 2001). AFB 1 affects immune functions and also inhibited lymphocyte blastogenesis in several animal species (Meissonier et al, 2008;Ul-Hassan et al, 2012). Silvotti et al (1997) showed a reduction in the lymphoproliferative response, a reduction of macrophage activity linked to a reduced NO production and chemotaxis in suckling piglets by sow fed with feed naturally contaminated by AFB1.…”