Toxic effects of fumonisins in piglets and counteracting strategy
Published:February 17, 2023
By:S. Schaumberger 1,*, C. Mallmann 2, V. Starkl 1, U. Hofstetter 1 / 1 Mycotoxin Risk Management, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Getzersdorf, Austria; 2 Department of Veterinary, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
Fumonisins (FUM) are a group of mycotoxins mainly produced by Fusarium fungi. They represent a serious threat to swine production as this livestock species is the most sensitive to FUM. They have multiple effects in swine; best described is the impact on pulmonary edema diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the negative impact of 50 ppm fumonisins on piglet health and to evaluate a mycotoxin counteracting additive (containing fumonisin esterase).
Materials and Methods:
The study was carried out at the Instituto SAMITEC, Brazil. Feed was artificially contaminated with FUM to reach a concentration of 50 ppm. Thirty male piglets were randomly assigned to five groups, six piglets each. Groups were as following: 1) no FUM and no additive, 2) 0.5% additive, 3) FUM, 4) FUM and 0.25% additive, and 5) FUM and 0.5% additive. The trial lasted 42 days, performance data and serum parameters (sphinganine to sphingosine (Sa/So) ratio, total plasma protein) were evaluated on a weekly basis. All data obtained in the experiment were subjected to analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA).
Results:
Feed intake was not affected by FUM contamination. Body weight, daily weight gain and FCR were significantly decreased by FUM addition compared to control group. Inclusion of 0.25 and 0.5% additive significantly improved body weight (8.58% and +8.58%, respectively), daily weight gain (+14.06% and +12.50%, respectively) and FCR (-7.81%).
Relative weight of livers and lungs of piglets fed 50 ppm FUM was significantly higher compared to control, +25.89% and 45.65%, respectively. The additive significantly lowered the organ weights of liver and lung compared to FUM group. The total serum plasma protein was not affected. The Sa/So ratio of animals fed 50 ppm FUM was significantly higher (+326.95%) compared to control treatment. The inclusion of 0.25 or 0.5% of additive significantly lowered (-40.86% and -40.70%, respectively) the Sa/So ratio compared with the pigs fed 50 ppm FUM.
Conclusion:
A diet containing 50 ppm FUM over a period of 42 days showed deleterious effects in the performance, organ weights and the Sa/So ratio of the piglets. According to the results, the inclusion of 0.25% or 0.50% of a counteracting additive significantly decreased the deleterious effects of 50 ppm of FUM on the evaluated parameters (P≤0.05).
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.
Published in the proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress – IPVS2016. For information on the event, past and future editions, check out https://ipvs2024.com/.