Investigation of the efficacy of mycotoxin-detoxifying additive on health and growth of newly-weaned pigs under deoxynivalenol challenges

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of feeding diets naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (supplemental 2 mg/kg) on health, growth, and the effects of a mycotoxindetoxifying additive in newly-weaned pigs.

Methods: Thirty-six pigs (27 day-old) were housed individually and assigned to 3 treatments for 5 weeks: CON (diet containing minimal deoxynivalenol), MT (diet with supplemental 1.9 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol), and MT+D (MT + mycotoxin-detoxifying additive, 0.2%, MegaFix, ICC, São Paulo, Brazil). The mycotoxin-detoxifying additive included bentonite, algae, enzymes, and yeast. Blood was taken at week 2 and 5. Jejunal tissue were taken at week 5. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS.

Results: Pigs fed MT+D tended to have decreased (p = 0.056) averaged daily feed intake during week 1 than MT. At week 2, serum aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase in MT tended to be lower (p = 0.059) than CON, whereas it was increased (p< 0.05) for MT+D than MT, indicating hepatic damages in MT and recovery in MT+D. Pigs fed MT had lower (p<0.05) blood urea nitrogen/creatinine than CON, supporting hepatic damage. At week 5, pigs fed MT tended to have reduced (p = 0.079) glucose than CON, whereas it was increased (p<0.05) for MT+D than MT, indicating impaired intestinal glucose absorption in MT, which was improved in MT+D. Pigs fed CON tended to have increased (p = 0.057) total glutathione in jejunum than MT, indicating oxidative stress in MT. Pigs fed MT+D had a reduced (p<0.05) proportion of Ki-67-positive cells in jejunum than MT, indicating lower enterocyte proliferation in MT+D.

Conclusion: Feeding supplemental 1.9 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol reduced growth and debilitated hepatic health of pigs, as seen in leakage of hepatic enzymes, impaired nitrogen metabolism, and increase in oxidative stress. The mycotoxin-detoxifying enhanced hepatic health and glucose levels, and attenuated gut damage in pigs fed deoxynivalenol contaminated diets.

Keywords: Adsorbent; Deoxynivalenol; Enzyme; Gut Health; Pig; Probiotic.

Figure 1

Average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain to feed ratio observed in weaned pigs consuming experimental diets with (MT) or without mycotoxins (CON) for 5 weeks. CON, control diet formulated with minimal deoxynivalenol contamination; MT, CON + 1.9 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol supplemented from mycotoxin contaminated corn DDGS; MT+D, MT + mycotoxin-detoxifying additive (0.2% of MegaFix; ICC, São Paulo, Brazil); and * 0.05≤p<0.10. Week 5 lasted 6 days to facilitate the sampling schedule.

Figure 2

Serum variables observed in weaned pigs consuming experimental diets with (MT) or without mycotoxins (CON) by the end of week 2 and week 5. CON, control diet formulated with minimal deoxynivalenol contamination; MT, CON + 1.9 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol supplemented from mycotoxin contaminated corn DDGS; MT+D, MT + mycotoxin-detoxifying additive (0.2% of MegaFix; ICC, São Paulo, Brazil); AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen. * 0.05≤p<0.10; ** p<0.05.

Figure 3

Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in gut mucosa in weaned pigs consuming experimental diets with (MT) or without mycotoxins (CON) for 5 weeks expressed as fold-change relative to pigs fed MT. CON, control diet formulated with minimal deoxynivalenol contamination; MT, CON + 1.9 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol supplemented from mycotoxin contaminated corn DDGS; MT+D, MT + mycotoxin-detoxifying additive (0.2% of MegaFix; ICC, São Paulo, Brazil); TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-8, interleukin-8. * 0.05≤p<0.10.