Effects of yeast cell wall, bacterial supplement, and thistle extract on performance, organ health, cardiac factors, and immunity in broilers exposed to aflatoxin and ochratoxin.

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) on growth performance, organ health, lipid profiles, and immunity in broiler chickens. It also assessed the potential of dietary additives, a commercial toxin binder (1000 mg/kg), yeast cell wall (YCW; 1000 mg/kg), Lactobacillus fermentum (LF; 1000 mg/kg, a total bacterial count of 1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg), and milk thistle extract (MTE; 200 mg/kg), to mitigate the harmful effects of AFB₁ and OTA. A total of 280 one-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to seven treatments: negative control (NC), positive control (PC, fed a diet contaminated with AFB₁ and OTA), PC + a commercial toxin binder, PC + YCW, PC + LF, PC + MTE, and PC + (YCW + LF + MTE). The experiment lasted for 42 days. Results indicated that AFB₁ and OTA significantly reduced growth performance parameters, increased liver and kidney biomarkers, such as serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine levels (P < 0.05), indicative of organ damage. Blood lipid profiles were also adversely affected, as demonstrated by increased serum low-density lipoprotein, and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels (P < 0.05). Immune function was compromised by AFB₁ and OTA, as indicated by lower serum total protein and globulin concentrations, and relative weights of Bursa of Fabricius (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with YCW, LF, and MTE effectively mitigated these adverse effects, improving growth performance, organ health, lipid profiles, and immune function in broilers exposed to AFB₁ and OTA. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of LF, YCW, and MTE as dietary supplements to counteract the harmful effects of AFB₁ and OTA in broiler chickens, suggesting their use as natural alternatives for mycotoxin mitigation in poultry production.