Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins

This study evaluated the effect of a yeast β-glucan on the performance, gut health, liver function, and bacterial translocation of broiler chickens fed a diet contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins. One-day-old male Ross broilers (n = 234) were divided into three treatments with si...

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Main Authors: Virginie Marquis, Julie Schulthess, Francesc Molist, Regiane R. Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/51
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author Virginie Marquis
Julie Schulthess
Francesc Molist
Regiane R. Santos
author_facet Virginie Marquis
Julie Schulthess
Francesc Molist
Regiane R. Santos
author_sort Virginie Marquis
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluated the effect of a yeast β-glucan on the performance, gut health, liver function, and bacterial translocation of broiler chickens fed a diet contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins. One-day-old male Ross broilers (n = 234) were divided into three treatments with six replicates each, and a cage containing 13 birds was the experimental unit. The animals were fed a maize–soybean-based control diet or maize–soybean diets naturally contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins, where deoxynivalenol (DON) was the major mycotoxin (~3 mg/kg), followed by zearalenone (ZEN) (~0.5 mg/kg). The <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet was either supplemented or not with a yeast β-glucan over 28 days. Dietary exposure to <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins did not affect production performance. On the other hand, <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin exposure significantly decreased jejunum villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) on d13, and this effect was counteracted by the yeast β-glucan. On d28, the jejunum VH:CD ratio was significantly higher in the broiler chickens that were fed the <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet with yeast β-glucan (125 mg/kg diet) added to it. The ileal villus area was significantly decreased in the broiler chickens fed <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet, regardless of the supplementation with yeast β-glucan. Dietary contamination caused intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation, probably affecting nutrient absorption on d28, and resulted in a significant increase in the translocation of <i>Escherichia coli</i> to the liver. Dietary supplementation with yeast β-glucan minimized these negative effects.
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spelling doaj-art-aea269ec924a409a959f58fc40e9ec6c2025-08-20T02:04:05ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-01-011725110.3390/toxins17020051Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> MycotoxinsVirginie Marquis0Julie Schulthess1Francesc Molist2Regiane R. Santos3Phileo by Lesaffre, 137 Rue Gabriel Péri, 59700 Marcq en Baroeul, FrancePhileo by Lesaffre, 137 Rue Gabriel Péri, 59700 Marcq en Baroeul, FranceDepartment of Research and Development, Schothorst Feed Research, Meerkoetenweg 26, 8218 NA Lelystad, The NetherlandsDepartment of Research and Development, Schothorst Feed Research, Meerkoetenweg 26, 8218 NA Lelystad, The NetherlandsThis study evaluated the effect of a yeast β-glucan on the performance, gut health, liver function, and bacterial translocation of broiler chickens fed a diet contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins. One-day-old male Ross broilers (n = 234) were divided into three treatments with six replicates each, and a cage containing 13 birds was the experimental unit. The animals were fed a maize–soybean-based control diet or maize–soybean diets naturally contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins, where deoxynivalenol (DON) was the major mycotoxin (~3 mg/kg), followed by zearalenone (ZEN) (~0.5 mg/kg). The <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet was either supplemented or not with a yeast β-glucan over 28 days. Dietary exposure to <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins did not affect production performance. On the other hand, <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin exposure significantly decreased jejunum villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) on d13, and this effect was counteracted by the yeast β-glucan. On d28, the jejunum VH:CD ratio was significantly higher in the broiler chickens that were fed the <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet with yeast β-glucan (125 mg/kg diet) added to it. The ileal villus area was significantly decreased in the broiler chickens fed <i>Fusarium</i>-contaminated diet, regardless of the supplementation with yeast β-glucan. Dietary contamination caused intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation, probably affecting nutrient absorption on d28, and resulted in a significant increase in the translocation of <i>Escherichia coli</i> to the liver. Dietary supplementation with yeast β-glucan minimized these negative effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/51<i>Fusarium</i>mycotoxinsintestineliveroxidative stressinflammation
spellingShingle Virginie Marquis
Julie Schulthess
Francesc Molist
Regiane R. Santos
Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
Toxins
<i>Fusarium</i>
mycotoxins
intestine
liver
oxidative stress
inflammation
title Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
title_full Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
title_fullStr Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
title_full_unstemmed Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
title_short Effect of a Yeast β-Glucan on the Performance, Intestinal Integrity, and Liver Function of Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins
title_sort effect of a yeast β glucan on the performance intestinal integrity and liver function of broiler chickens fed a diet naturally contaminated with i fusarium i mycotoxins
topic <i>Fusarium</i>
mycotoxins
intestine
liver
oxidative stress
inflammation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/51
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