Work

Effects of pectic oligosaccharide on growth performance, organ indexes and intestinal health in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed at investigating the influences of pectic oligosaccharide ( POS) on growth performance, organ indexes and intestinal health in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B 1 ( AFB 1 ). In vitro experiment was conducted to assess reactive oxygen species ( ROS )-scavenging ability of POS. In vivo experiment was then implemented by allocating 320 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers to 4 groups (8 replicates/group), according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with POS addition (0 or 400 mg/kg) and AFB 1 exposure (with or without) as the two factors. All parameters were determined on d 21. The results revealed an in vitro ability of POS to scavenge ROS. AFB 1 exposure tended to decrease ( P < 0.10) average daily gain ( ADG ) and average daily feed intake ( ADFI ), as well as caused abnormities in liver, thymus and bursal indexes. It also elevated ( P < 0.05) intestinal ROS and malondialdehyde contents but reduced ( P < 0.05) intestinal catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, as well as caused intestinal injuries including the decreasing trends ( P < 0.10) of ileal villus height:crypt depth ratio and the relative mRNA expression of claudin-1 together with the increasing trend ( P < 0.10) of serum diamine oxidase ( DAO ) activity. POS addition tended to elevate ( P < 0.10) ADG and ADFI, as well as mitigated AFB 1 -induced elevation ( P < 0.10) in spleen index and reduction ( P < 0.05) of bursal index. Moreover, POS addition tended to enhance ( P < 0.10) ileal total antioxidant capacity in AFB 1 -exposed broilers. Besides, POS addition lowered ( P < 0.05) ROS level and increased ( P < 0.05) glutathione content in ileum, as well as showed a tendency ( P < 0.10) to elevate ileal claudin-1 expression and decrease serum DAO activity of broilers regardless of AFB 1 exposure. Collectively, supplemental POS benefited growth performance and organ indexes of broilers exposed to AFB 1 , which could attribute to its ability to ameliorate intestinal redox state and integrity. These findings underscore a potential of POS to attenuate the detriments of AFB 1 contamination in diets.

Source: Poultry Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105668