Effect of mycotoxin contaminated corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles on growth performance, body composition, immunological response and gastrointestinal health in young pullets.

Authors: PANERU, DEEPENDRA - University Of Georgia; SHARMA, MILAN - University Of Georgia; SHI, HANYI - University Of Georgia; GOO, DOYUN - University Of Georgia; CHOPPA, VENKATA SESHA - University Of Georgia; GYAWALI, ISHWARI - University Of Georgia; Shanmugasundaram, Revathi; KIM, WOO KYUN - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2024
Publication Date: 11/28/2024
Citation: Paneru, D., Sharma, M., Shi, H., Goo, D., Choppa, V., Gyawali, I., Shanmugasundaram, R., Kim, W. 2024. Effect of mycotoxin contaminated corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles on growth performance, body composition, immunological response and gastrointestinal health in young pullets.. Poultry Science Association. Poultry Science, 104(1), p.104611.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104611.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104611

Interpretive Summary: Mycotoxins are ubiquitously present in grains, and as a result are entering into the market chain. This includes ethanol production when contaminated grain is used. Currently, corn is the major ingredient used to produce ethanol in the United States. Corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a co-product of the ethanol production process, and DDGS are increasingly used in poultry diets for its cost-effectiveness and high levels of protein and energy. However, DDGS can contain higher concentrations of mycotoxins compared to corn kernels due to the fermentation process. The exposure to mycotoxins through contaminated DDGS can lead to numerous adverse health effects in poultry including reduced growth performance, compromised gut integrity, and modulation of immune function. The susceptibility of young pullets to mycotoxins is particularly concerning because nutrition significantly influences their growth, development, and performance as laying hens. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of varying levels of mycotoxin-contaminated DDGS on pullet health and performance over a 28-day period. While the initial exposure was well-tolerated, with minimal effects on growth and immunity, the prolonged exposure to DDGS contaminated with DON disrupted key physiological processes such as reduced weight gain, increased fat deposition, altered immune cell populations, compromised antioxidant defenses, and a potentially leaky gut barrier. The pullets’ adaptive immunity initially attempted to counter the mycotoxin challenge, but this response became more severe with the prolonged exposure, leading to chronic inflammation.

Technical Abstract: Mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), are common contaminants in feed ingredients such as corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and pose significant risks to poultry health. This study investigated the effects of feeding naturally-mycotoxin-contaminated DDGS, with DON as the primary contaminant, on young pullets’ health over a 28-day period. Four-week-old Hy-Line W36 pullets (n = 360) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% DDGS; 6 replicates/treatments, 12 birds/replicate) for 28 days (4 to 8 weeks old). The analyzed levels of DON in the treatment diets were: 0% DDGS (less than the limit of quantification), 5% DDGS (3.4 to 3.5 ppm), 10% DDGS (5.8 to 5.9 ppm), 15% DDGS (8.9 to 9.4 ppm), and 20% DDGS (13.9 to 15.4 ppm). Growth performance, body composition, immunological response, and gastrointestinal health were analyzed at two time-points: day 13 (short-term exposure) and 28 (prolonged exposure). Short-term exposure to DON-contaminated DDGS showed no effects on growth performance and immune function. However, prolonged exposure to increasing DDGS levels resulted in significant reductions in body weight gain and alterations in immune cell populations, particularly at higher inclusion levels (15 and 20% DDGS). An increase in CD4+ T cells and CD4+:CD8+ ratio suggested a shift towards a helper T cell-mediated immune response. Initially, antioxidant defenses increased but were depleted with sustained DON exposure, compromising the ability to manage oxidative stress. Gut permeability analysis revealed the potential to modulate intestinal permeability and tight junction protein expression, indicating that DON is a critical factor for compromising intestinal health. Histological changes also suggested potential long-term effects on nutrient absorption. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated a dose-dependent, time-dependent effect of DON-contaminated DDGS on pullet health. While a short-term exposure may be well-tolerated, a prolonged exposure may disrupt key physiological processes, potentially leading to compromised growth, altered immune function, oxidative stress, and inefficient nutrient absorption.