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Protective effects of a multicomponent toxin binder and organic acid blend on feed efficiency, oxidative status, hepatic histology, and jejunal immune–antioxidant responses in broilers co-challenged with aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of a multicomponent toxin binder ( MTB ) and an organic acid blend ( OAB ) on performance, immunity, oxidative status, liver histology, and jejunal inflammatory/antioxidant gene expression in broilers challenged with aflatoxin B1 ( AFB 1 ) and Clostridium perfringens . A total of 420 Ross 308 broilers were assigned to seven groups (6 replicates × 10 birds): Control (unchallenged), A (AFB 1 ), AM (AFB 1 + MTB), AMO (AFB 1 + MTB + OAB), AC (AFB 1 + C. perfringens ), ACM (AFB 1 + C. perfringens + MTB), and ACMO (AFB 1 + C. perfringens + MTB+OAB). AFB 1 (500 ppb) was provided throughout days 0–42; C. perfringens (1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) was administered on days 15–24. AFB 1 alone, and more markedly the AFB 1 + C. perfringens co-challenge, reduced body-weight gain and feed efficiency, increased hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde level, enlarged central-vein diameter, upregulated jejunal NF-κB1, TNF-α, and IL-6, and downregulated hepatic total antioxidant capacity and jejunal NRF2 and SOD1 mRNA expression ( P < 0.05). The co-challenge also lowered Newcastle disease antibody titers, reduced phytohemagglutinin-induced toe-web swelling, and increased the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio ( P < 0.05). Although MTB attenuated several AFB 1 -related impairments, MTB+OAB provided superior protection under co-challenge, increasing hepatic total antioxidant capacity, lowering malondialdehyde, improving liver histoarchitecture (central-vein diameter), and normalizing the expression of immune and antioxidant genes toward control levels, alongside improvements in performance indices ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, although co-exposure to AFB 1 and C. perfringens caused greater detriments than AFB 1 alone, adding OAB to MTB improved performance, oxidative, histological, and immunological outcomes, supporting MTB+OAB as a practical strategy for broilers under concurrent mycotoxin–enteric challenge.

Source: Poultry Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106546

Authors: Maryam Karimi Zandi, Hassan Shirzadi, Hossein Ali Ghasemi, Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi, Kamran Taherpour, Enayat Rahmatnejad

Institutions: Ilam University, Arak University, Tarbiat Modares University, Persian Gulf University

Language: English

Topic: Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,600