Aflatoxin B1 associated oxidative stress and immunological dysregulations are efficiently counteracted by dietary supplementation of distillery yeast sludge in broilers.

Abstract

Abstract Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by various species of toxigenic fungi, is among the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins which act as a major source of distress for the growing poultry sector while distillery yeast sludge or distillery sludge (DS) is a byproduct of molasses-based industries and often treated as a waste despite of containing abundant nutrients particularly protein contents, basic amino acids and vitamins along with other macro and micronutrients. This study was designed to investigate the oxidative stress and immunological alterations induced by AFB1 and their amelioration by dietary supplementation of DS. 3. For this purpose, 360 newly hatched broiler chicks were randomly divided into twelve groups (30 birds each) and fed different combinations of AFB1 (100, 200 and 600 µg/kg) and DS (5 and 10 g/kg) for 42 days. The parameters under consideration were total antioxidant capacity, antibody response to intravenous injection of sheep red blood cells, in-situ lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin-P and phagocytic potential through carbon clearance assay system. The results of this study established that DS supplementation ameliorated AFB1 associated oxidative stress and immunological anomalies in groups given AFB1 at 100 µg/kg and 200 µg/kg, however little to no relief was observed in birds fed with AFB1 at 600 µg/kg. The determination of actual ratio of AFBI to DS for substantiation of ameliorating effects needs further investigation.