Amelioration of ochratoxin A-Induced immunotoxicity and lymphoid tissue injury in poultry using pumpkin seed supplementation: A natural feed-based approach.

Abstract

This study tested pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.) against OTA toxicity in broilers. One hundred forty chicks were divided into seven groups: control, OTA (400 ppb), PS (200 or 400 mg/kg), OTA + PS (200 or 400 mg/kg), and OTA + commercial binder. Broilers fed OTA-contaminated diets showed a 37 % reduction in feed intake and 32 % decrease in body weight gain compared to control. Birds also exhibited clinical deterioration, with weekly clinical scores declining from 12 in controls to 6 in the OTA group by week 5, reflecting reduced activity, watery feces, and poor feathering. OTA suppressed humoral immunity, lowering total anti-SRBC titers from 7.0 ± 1.0 in controls to 5.0 ± 1.0, and reduced IgG titers by ∼30 %. Cellular immunity was impaired, with significant reductions in lymphoproliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHAP) and macrophage phagocytic activity. Histopathologically, OTA exposure led to lymphoid organ atrophy, lymphocytic depletion, and epithelial damage in both the bursa of Fabricius and thymus. Birds receiving PS-supplemented diets, particularly at 400 mg/kg, demonstrated improved feed consumption, restored humoral and cellular immune responses, and preserved tissue architecture with efficacy comparable to the commercial toxin binder. This suggesting PS may offer a practical and natural alternative to synthetic binders for mitigating OTA toxicity in poultry. These protective effects may be attributed to the bioactive constituents of pumpkin seeds, such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids, which are known for their immunomodulatory properties. This suggests that PS may offer a practical and natural alternative to synthetic binders for mitigating OTA toxicity in poultry.