Subclinical Doses of Dietary Fumonisins and Deoxynivalenol Alter the Cecal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens

Authors: Shanmugasundaram, Revathi; LOURENCO, JEFERSON - University Of Georgia; AL HAKEEM, WALID - University Of Georgia; DYCUS, MADISON - University Of Georgia; APPLEGATE, TODD - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Fusarium toxins are one of the most common contaminants in poultry diets. Co-occurrence of fumonisins (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON), even at a subclinical dose, negatively affects the production performance and intestinal integrity in broiler chickens. Loss of gut integrity can be expected to alter the intestinal microbiota composition. This study evaluated the effects of subclinical doses of combined mycotoxins on the cecal microbiota composition and diversity in broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were raised on two diets: starter (d 0-21), and grower diet (d 22-35). A total of 240 one-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to two treatments, each replicated in eight pens with 15 birds per pen. The experimental treatments were control diet and 3mg/kg FUM + 4 mg/kg DON contaminated diet. On d35, 3mg/kg FUM + 4 mg/kg DON contaminated diet tended to decrease the body weight by 84g compared to the control group (P= 0.06). Cecal contents were collected on d 21, 28, and 35. The bacterial compositions of the cecal contents were analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Overall, microbial richness and diversity increased (P ' 0.02) during the studied period (d 21 – 35). Cecal contents of birds in the 3mg/kg FUM +4 mg/kg DON group had greater (P < 0.05) microbial evenness and diversity (Shannon index), compared to the control group. Chronic exposure of 3mg/kg FUM + 4 mg/kg DON decreased (P = 0.001) the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the cecal content, compared to the control group. The abundance of families Defluviitaleaceae and Lachnospiraceae were lower (P < 0.05) in the ceca of birds in the control group, but the abundances of Moraxellaceae and Streptococcaceae were higher (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the cecal content of birds in the 3mg/kg FUM + 4 mg/kg DON showed decreased (P < 0.05) relative abundances of Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, and a tendency (P = 0.08) for a lower abundance of Thermincola compared to the control group. The present findings showed that dietary FUM and DON contamination, even at subclinical levels, altered the bacterial microbiota composition and diversity in the cecal content of the birds.