Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is the predominant mycotoxin that originated toxicity in broilers through oxidative damage, intestinal barrier dysfunction, reduced immune system and dysfunction of microorganisms and enzymes in target organs. The intestine is the first AFB₁ target organ destroyed after the bird's body is induced. This review summarises the current knowledge of the negative results of AFB₁‐induced intestinal damage on broiler production. It was conducted in accordance with the relevant studies in the cited literatures being retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Web of Science. First, AFB₁ can change the intestinal barrier function by destroying the intestinal architecture, tissue and cell integrity of the gut epithelium. Second, AFB₁ can damage the immune barrier function of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Third, the microbiota of birds interacts closely with the ingested aflatoxin. Finally, because broilers are tremendously sensitive to AFB₁ contamination, the poisonous and noxious effects of this mycotoxin in the broiler industry cause millions of dollars in losses every year. This review briefly discussed that the AFB₁, which affects the intestines of broiler chickens, was reduced the immune apparatus, antioxidant protection system, gastric system, and broiler production status and its impact on human health. Therefore, this review will improve our perception of the important intestine in a bird's health and the adverse effect of AFB₁.

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of lycopene (LYC) supplementation on the intestinal immune function, barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of broilers fed with aflatoxinB1 (AFB₁) contaminated diet. A total of 144 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three dietary treatment groups; each group consisted of six replicates (eight birds in each cage). Treatments were: (1) a basal diet containing neither AFB₁ nor LYC (Control), (2) basal diet containing 100 µg/kg AFB₁, and (3) basal diets with 100 µg/kg AFB₁ and 200 mg/kg LYC (AFB₁ and LYC). The results showed that dietary LYC supplementation ameliorated the AFB₁ induced broiler intestinal changes by decreasing the inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), and increasing mRNA abundances of cludin-1 (CLDN-1) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the jejunum mucosa. On the other hand, AFB₁-induced increases in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activities, D-lactate concentration, mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations were reversed by dietary LYC supplementation (p < 0.05). Additionally, LYC supplementation ameliorated the redox balance through increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities and their related mRNA expression abundances compared to AFB₁ exposed broilers. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with LYC could alleviate AFB₁ induced broiler intestinal immune function and barrier function damage and improve antioxidants status.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on the antioxidant status, intestinal morphology, functional damage, and barrier integrity of heat-stressed Hy-Line Sonia (HYS) layer chicks. A total of 240 female HYS at 35 days of age with average body weights (415 ± 35 g) were divided into 6 groups with 10 replicates/group and 4 chickens per replicate. A 2 × 3 factorial design study was performed, including two conditions of ambient temperature (25 °C and 35 °C) and three dietary levels of SB (0, 0.5, and 1.0 SB g/kg diet). HS decreased (P < 0.05) the performance parameters final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), and increased mortality; compared with the HS groups, supplementation with SB decreased mortality. Compared with thermoneutral conditions, the high-temperature conditions significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the thymus, liver, and heart weights, and the relative length of the jejunum, ileum, and cecum, whereas supplementation with 0.5 SB g/kg diet increased (P < 0.05) the weight of the spleen in growing layer chickens. High temperature decreased (P < 0.05) the villus height (VH) and VH/CD ratio, and increased the crypt depth (CD), and supplementation with SB and the T × SB interaction produced greater VH and VH/CD values in the LSB2 and HSB2 groups. SB decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of serum malondialdehyde (MDA); however, high temperature decreased (P < 0.05) the activities of the catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) antioxidant enzymes. The relative mRNA expression levels of the occluding, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) proteins were downregulated (P < 0.05) at high-temperatures, while that of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) was upregulated. Dietary supplementation decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), and interferon-γ (IFNγ), and the T × SB interaction decreased TGFβ gene expression in the LSB2 and HSB2 groups compared with that in the other groups of growing layer chickens. SB supplementation effectively alleviated HS-induced oxidative stress and structural and functional damage to the intestine in layer chickens in the growing phase.

The present study aimed to optimize the combined effect of dietary selenium (SE) and iodine (ID) on the productive and reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of Longyuan breeding ducks. A total of 288 Longyan duck breeders aged 20 wk were randomly assigned to four groups with six replicates (n = 72 ducks/group; 12 ducks/replicate). A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment was performed and included 2 supplementation levels of each SE and ID for 200 days of the experimental period. The first group (SE0/ID0) received a basal diet without SE or ID supplementation and was considered to be the control group, whereas the other three groups, SE0/ID4, SE2/ID0 and SE2/ID4, received a basal diet supplemented with 0.4 mg ID/kg, 0.2 mg SE/kg or 0.2 mg SE supplemented with 0.4 mg ID/kg, respectively. The results indicated that the albumin height of the SE2/ID0 group was lower (P < 0.05) than that of the control group, that the egg shape index of the SE2/ID4 and SE0/ID4 groups were lower (P < 0.05) than that of the control group (SE0/ID0), and that the SE concentration significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the SE2/ID0 and SE2/ID4 groups. Hatchability and embryonic mortality improved (P < 0.05) in the SE2/ID0 group. Plasma GSH-Px activity was increased (P < 0.05) by reducing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the SE groups. In addition, the tibia length significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the ID (SE0/ID4 and SE2/ID4) groups compared with that in the control group, the plasma content of IGF-1 in the SE2/ID4 and SE0/ID4 groups were greater (P < 0.05) than that in the control group, and the bone mineral content increased (P > 0.05) in the SE2/ID0 and SE0/ID0 groups. Compared with those in the other groups, the mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes, including Nrf2 and SHMT1 in the SE2/ID4 group was upregulated (P > 0.05), especially in the SE2/ID4 group. Overall, dietary treatment with SE2/ID4 (0.2 mg SE in 0.4 mg ID/kg diet) could be a suitable feed supplement for improving the the egg quality, health status, endogenous antioxidant content, antioxidant-related gene expression and pre-hatching quality of Longyuan duck breeders.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary lycopene (LYC) supplementation on immune organ indices, and immunological parameters of broilers fed a diet contaminated with aflatoxinB₁ (AFB₁). A total of 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers were purchased from a commercial hatchery (Nantong, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China). The broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups with 6 replicates (cages) for each treatment and 8 broilers in each replicate. The three dietary treatments were as follows: (1) a basal diet (control); (2) a 100 µg/kg AFB₁ contaminated diet; and (3) a diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg LYC and 100 µg/kg AFB₁ (AFB₁+LYC). Results: The carcass characteristic results showed that the live body weight (BWT) was reduced (P < 0.05) in the AFB₁-contaminated group compared to the control group. The supplementation of LYC significantly increased (P < 0.05) the BWT and the breast yield in comparison to the AFB₁-contaminated group. On the other hand, the thymus weight was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the AFB₁-contaminated group compared to the control group. Our results also demonstrated that 100 µg/kg AFB₁ in the broiler diet could reduce the concentration of IgA (immunoglobulin A), CD3 and CD8 in the intestinal mucosa compared to those in the control group. The addition of dietary LYC increased the levels of IgA and CD3, and CD8 T-cell subsets in the broiler small intestine, implying that the immune function of the intestinal mucosa might be improved. Conclusion: In conclusion, a broiler diet supplemented with LYC can alleviate live weight, immune organ weight, and increase immunological parameters by improving intestinal damage.