Subclinical exposure to multiple mycotoxins causes cecal microbiota dysbiosis in broiler chickens

Authors: KAPPARI, LAHARIKA - University Of Georgia; LOURENCO, JEFERSON - University Of Georgia; APPLEGATE, TODD - University Of Georgia; Glenn, Anthony; Shanmugasundaram, Revathi

Submitted to: Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Fusarium mycotoxins contaminate poultry feed ingredients, and their presence causes dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis, increased gut permeability, and inflammation. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) on the cecal microbiota composition, diversity, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile in broilers. A total of 960 one-day-old broilers were distributed into eight dietary treatments: T1 (Control), T2 (21.0 FB1+3.0 DON+1.0 ZEA), T3 (17.0 FB1+1.0 DON+0.2 ZEA), T4 (9.0 FB1+3.5 DON+0.7 ZEA), T5 (5.0 FB1+0.4 DON+0.1 ZEA), T6 (2.0 FB1+2.5 DON+0.9 ZEA), T7 (0.6 FB1+1.0 DON+0.3 ZEA), and T8 (0.8 FB1+0.5 DON+0.1 ZEA) mg/kg diet. Cecal contents were collected on d 21 and 35, and bacterial compositions were analyzed by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. On day 21, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in relative abundance on Lachnospiraceae by 6.84% and Ruminococcaceae by 7.29%, while Lactobacillaceae and Bacteroidaceae decreased by 12.42% and 25.29% in T2 groups compared to the control groups. On day 35, Lachnospiraceae abundance significantly increased (P < 0.05) by 24.78%, while Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Bacteroidaceae decreased by 20.95%, 8.69%, and 10.68% in T2 groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). There was a significant decrease in microbial evenness and diversity in T2, T4, and T6 groups on days both d21 and d35 (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. On day 21, acetate concentrations in cecal contents were 17.5% and 15.5% higher in T5 and T6, and total SCFAs were lower in T7 and T8 groups (20.0% to 74.1%) compared to the control group (P <0.0001). On day 35, in T4 groups, cecal acetate and total SCFAs concentrations were increased by 43.5%, 44.4%, and decreased in T5, T6, T7, and T8 (59.5% to 69.1%) compared to the control (P < 0.05) respectively. The present findings showed that multiple mycotoxin concentrations in the diet, even at subclinical levels, altered the bacterial microbiota composition and SCFA profile in the cecal content of the birds. Keywords: Mycotoxin, Broilers, Microbial dysbiosis