Effects of clinoptilolite on growth performance, health and detoxification in broilers

EFFECTS OF MODIFIED CLINOPTILOLITE ZEOLITE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, HEALTH AND DETOXIFICATION OF AFLATOXIN B1 AND OCHRATOXIN A IN BROILERS

J. Raj1, M. Vasiljević1, P. Tassis2, H. Farkaš1, J. Bošnjak-Neumüller1 & K. Männer3 PATENT CO, DOO., Serbia School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 3 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany 1 2

J. Raj, M. Vasiljević, P. Tassis, H. Farkaš, J. Bošnjak-Neumüller & K. Männer (2021) Effects of a modified clinoptilolite zeolite on growth performance, health status and detoxification of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in male broiler chickens, British Poultry Science, DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2021.1891522

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OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test the ability of an in-feed modified clinoptilolite zeolite-based mycotoxin binding substance (Minazel® Plus, Patent Co, Misicevo, Serbia; MP) to prevent gastrointestinal absorption of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) and its effects on the health status and performance parameters of broilers.

MATERIALS & METHODS A total of 375 1-day old male broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were included in the 42-day trial (from hatch to 42 days of age).

Animals were randomly allocated to five treatment groups (T1-T5) in 25 pens (15 broilers per pen, five pens per treatment).

T1 group: broilers fed control maize-based diet without the addition of mycotoxins or the test product.

T2 group: broilers fed contaminated maize-based diet containing 0.02 mg AFB1/kg feed and 0.1 mg OTA/kg feed, T3 group: broilers fed contaminated maize-based diet containing 0.02 mg AFB1/kg feed and 0.1 mg OTA/kg feed, as well as the test product (1 g/kg feed).

T4 group: broilers fed contaminated maize-based diet containing 0.05 mg AFB1/kg feed and 0.5 mg OTA/kg feed.

T5 group: broilers fed contaminated maize-based diet containing 0.05 mg AFB1/kg feed and 0.5 mg OTA/kg feed, as well as the test product (2 g/kg feed).

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T1 Control maize-based diet

T3

T2 Contaminated maize (0.02 mg AFB1/kg feed + 0.1 mg OTA/kg feed)

T4 Contaminated maize (0.05 mg AFB1/kg feed + 0.5 mg OTA/kg feed)

Contaminated maize (0.02 mg AFB1/kg feed + 0.1 mg OTA/kg feed) 1 g Minazel® Plus/kg feed

T5 Contaminated maize (0.05 mg AFB1/kg feed + 0.5 mg OTA/kg feed)+ 2 g Minazel® Plus/kg feed

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RESULTS Results showed that exposure to AFB1 and OTA at low or moderate levels, as used in this study, did not markedly affect growth performance, blood profile or organ weights.

However, improvements in feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in birds receiving Minazel® Plus.

FCR of T3 group was improved in comparison with T2 group, although there was no significant difference between T5 and T4 groups.

Average body weight gain was improved in the T5 group compared to T4, but not in the T3 versus T2 group comparison.

For serum biochemical parameters, glutamate-dehydrogenase (GLDH) was significantly improved in T5 birds in comparison with the T4 group.

The addition of Minazel® Plus significantly decreased residue levels of AFB1 in liver and OTA in the spleen of the treated groups.

The improvements in productive performance and reduction of mycotoxin residue levels in tissues demonstrated a beneficial effect of Minazel® Plus in cases of concurrent AFB1 and OTA ingestion by broilers.

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