The Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol Predisposes for the Development of Clostridium perfringens-Induced Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Both mycotoxin contamination of feed and Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis have an increasing global economic impact on poultry production. Especially the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common feed contaminant. This study aimed at examining the predisposing effect of DON on the development of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. An experimental Clostridium perfringens infection study revealed that DON, at a contamination level of 3,000 to 4,000 µg/kg feed, increased the percentage of birds with subclinical necrotic enteritis from 20±2.6% to 47±3.0% (P<0.001). DON significantly reduced the transepithelial electrical resistance in duodenal segments (P<0.001) and decreased duodenal villus height (P = 0.014) indicating intestinal barrier disruption and intestinal epithelial damage, respectively. This may lead to an increased permeability of the intestinal epithelium and decreased absorption of dietary proteins. Protein analysis of duodenal content indeed showed that DON contamination resulted in a significant increase in total protein concentration (P = 0.023). Furthermore, DON had no effect on in vitro growth, alpha toxin production and netB toxin transcription of Clostridium perfringens. In conclusion, feed contamination with DON at concentrations below the European maximum guidance level of 5,000 µg/kg feed, is a predisposing factor for the development of necrotic enteritis in broilers. These results are associated with a negative effect of DON on the intestinal barrier function and increased intestinal protein availability, which may stimulate growth and toxin production of Clostridium perfringens.

Effects of dietary deoxynivalenol and zearalenone on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in growing pigs

“…There have been contradictory reports on the effect of DON on the CP digestibility. Dänicke et al (Maresca et al, 2002;Kolf-Clauw et al, 2009;Antonissen et al, 2014). It was also reported that DON may decrease the expression of tight junction protein such as claudin-4 (Pinton et al, 2010) as well as cause the inhibition of the regeneration of damaged intestinal epithelial cells (Ueno, 1985;Hussein and Brasel, 2001).…”

The effect of cold stress on the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in broiler chicks

“…A number of these factors have been tested and confirmed under controlled experimental conditions. These include high stocking density (Tsiouris et al, 2015), presence of moderately high concentrations of deoxynivalenol in the feed (Antonissen et al, 2014) and coccidiosis (Williams, 2005). Surprisingly, chronic heat stress tends to protect the birds from necrotic enteritis (Calefi et al, 2014).…”

The Impact of Deoxynivalenol on Pigeon Health: Occurrence in Feed, Toxicokinetics and Interaction with Salmonellosis

“…As DON is known to alter the intestinal barrier [14, 15, 17], an impact of DON on disease susceptibility could be assumed. However, the exact outcome of co-exposure to Fusarium mycotoxins and Salmonella infection is difficult to predict, and can be influenced by the animal host species, the bacterial strain and the effect of the mycotoxin on the bacterium, the host cells and the host-pathogen interaction.…”

“…DON negatively affects the intestinal barrier in many species by its impact on cell viability and proliferation, intestinal morphology, intestinal mucus layer, production of antimicrobial peptides, epithelial integrity, and modulation of digestive and absorptive processes [14–17]. Hence, this can lead to an enhanced susceptibility to enteric diseases, such as necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens [15, 18]. …”