Effects of yeast cell wall, bacterial supplement, and thistle extract on performance, organ health, cardiac factors, and immunity in broilers exposed to aflatoxin and ochratoxin.

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of aflatoxin B(AFB) and ochratoxin A (OTA) on growth performance, organ health, lipid profiles, and immunity in broiler chickens. It also assessed the potential of dietary additives, a commercial toxin binder (1000&#xa0;mg/kg), yeast cell wall (YCW; 1000&#xa0;mg/kg), Lactobacillus fermentum (LF; 1000&#xa0;mg/kg, a total bacterial count of 1&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10CFU/kg), and milk thistle extract (MTE; 200&#xa0;mg/kg), to mitigate the harmful effects of AFBand OTA. A total of 280 one-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to seven treatments: negative control (NC), positive control (PC, fed a diet contaminated with AFBand OTA), PC&#x2009;+&#x2009;a commercial toxin binder, PC&#x2009;+&#x2009;YCW, PC&#x2009;+&#x2009;LF, PC&#x2009;+&#x2009;MTE, and PC + (YCW&#x2009;+&#x2009;LF&#x2009;+&#x2009;MTE). The experiment lasted for 42 days. Results indicated that AFBand OTA significantly reduced growth performance parameters, increased liver and kidney biomarkers, such as serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine levels (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), indicative of organ damage. Blood lipid profiles were also adversely affected, as demonstrated by increased serum low-density lipoprotein, and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Immune function was compromised by AFBand OTA, as indicated by lower serum total protein and globulin concentrations, and relative weights of Bursa of Fabricius (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Dietary supplementation with YCW, LF, and MTE effectively mitigated these adverse effects, improving growth performance, organ health, lipid profiles, and immune function in broilers exposed to AFBand OTA. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of LF, YCW, and MTE as dietary supplements to counteract the harmful effects of AFBand OTA in broiler chickens, suggesting their use as natural alternatives for mycotoxin mitigation in poultry production.