Simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins in broiler feeds using a liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that are typically present in grain and feed ingredients used for animal feeds. An analytical method using LC-ESI-MS/MS was developed to quantify nine mycotoxins, consisting of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler feeds. In total, 100 samples of broiler feeds were collected from poultry farms in Central Thailand. The survey found that AFB₁ and ZEA were the most prevalent mycotoxins in the feed samples at percentages of 93% and 63%, respectively. The limit of detections (LODs) of investigated mycotoxins was 0.20–0.78 ng/g. AFB₂, DON, AFG₁, NIV and T-2 toxin were also detectable at low contamination levels with percentages of 20%, 9%, 7%, 5% and 1%, respectively, whereas OTA and AFG₂ were not detected in any of the feed samples. These results suggest that there is a very low level of risk of the exposure to mycotoxins in feeds obtained from broiler farms in Central Thailand.     

银杏-杜仲叶发酵物对脂多糖应激肉仔鸡的肠道功能和免疫反应的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加银杏-杜仲叶发酵物（FGEL）对脂多糖（LPS）应激肉仔鸡的生长性能、肠道结构、消化吸收功能和免疫反应的影响，并与未发酵银杏-杜仲叶（GEL）进行比较。采用2×3双因子试验设计，即2种免疫应激处理（腹腔注射LPS或注射等量生理盐水）和3种饲粮处理（基础饲粮及在基础饲粮中添加0.40%GEL或0.40%FGEL的试验饲粮）。选取1日龄健康爱拔益加（AA）肉仔鸡360只，随机分为6个处理，每个处理均设6个重复，每个重复10只鸡。试验期为21 d。在试验第13、15、17、19和21天，3个应激处理的试鸡腹腔注射500μg/kg BW的LPS，其他3个处理注射等量的生理盐水。在试验第21天最后1次注射后2～4 h进行屠宰取样。结果表明：1）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL的肉仔鸡料重比（F/G）有显著改善（P=0.024），饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡平均日增重（ADG）(P=0.023)和血清D-木糖的含量（P=0.011）的降低。2）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡十二指肠（P=0.011）和空肠（P=0.030）的相对重量...     

Independent and combined effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils and acetic acid on prevalence and intensity of fatty liver syndrome in broiler chickens

Two hundred fifty two male Ross 308 broiler chicks were raised to examine the effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO; 0, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 mg/bird/day) administrated via oral gavage and dietary supplementation of acetic acid (AA; 0 or 20 g/kg) in a 6 × 2 factorial fashion using a complete randomized block design with seven replicates of three birds each. In Day 34 of age, liver fat percentage decreased by increasing SkEO levels in a quadratic trend (p < .05). Oral gavag of 200 and 300 mg of SkEO decreased AST activity by 16.67% and 16.94%, respectively, compared with the control birds (p < .05). In Day 38 of age, liver percentage was greater by 0.37% in the birds received 400 mg SkEO than those given 500 mg (p < .05). Liver fat percentage decreased in the birds fed the acidified diet and received 300 and 500 mg SkEO as well as in the birds offered 200 and 400 mg of SkEO and fed non-acidified diet than those received acidified diet with no SkEO administration (p < .05). Prevalence of score zero for hepatocytic vacuolations and necrosis was 80.00% and 42.42% in the birds receiving 600 mg SkEO respectively. Median for relative frequency of scores for hepatocytic vacuolations and hepatocytic necrosis was lesser in the birds received SkEO by oral gavage compared with that of control birds (p < .05). In conclusion, administration of SkEO via oral gavage reduced liver fat in broiler chicken but no consistent dosage could be verified as the effective dosage for all ages concerned. The acidified diet per se showed no evident effect on liver fat at all ages considered. The SkEO × AA interaction exhibited promising but unreliable effects on liver colour score in market age (42 days).