This study examined the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure and graded dietary selenium (Se) supplementation on fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stress markers in the liver of broiler chickens. OTA is known to generate oxidative stress, promote lipid peroxidation, and affect the antioxidant system. Se, an essential trace element with antioxidant properties, may help counteract OTA-induced toxicity. In this short-term (5-day) in vivo feeding experiment, 21-day-old broiler chickens were divided into six groups, each with six birds: Control (diet free from Se), 0.3 mg/kg Se, 0.5 mg/kg Se, 2 mg/kg OTA, 2 mg/kg OTA + 0.3 mg/kg Se, 2 mg/kg OTA + 0.5 mg/kg Se. Our findings show that supplementing 0.3 mg/kg (p < 0.01) or 0.5 mg/kg Se (p < 0.001) in OTA-exposed birds significantly reduced the early oxidative stress markers (conjugated dienes and trienes) and significantly increased (0.3 mg/kg p < 0.01; 0.5 mg/kg p < 0.001) glutathione levels, indicating enhanced glutathione-dependent antioxidant protection. The treatments also significantly altered the ratio of monounsaturated and n6/n3 polyunsaturated FAs. OTA with 0.3 mg/kg Se supplementation significantly (p ˂ 0.05) reduced total unsaturation and FA average chain length. At a dose of 0.3 mg/kg, the interaction of Se and OTA altered the PUFA composition, while 0.5 mg/kg Se supplementation enhanced antioxidant defense and reduced lipid peroxidation. These results highlight the dual but separate role of Se, where inadequate doses may enhance OTA toxicity, while optimal supplementation may have a protective effect on hepatic lipid homeostasis. These findings can be used in the future progress of the mitigation strategy against OTA exposure in poultry nutrition.

Fumonisin B1 was intraperitoneally administered at 2.1 μg/animal/day (1×) and 5 and 10 times above (5× and 10×) to male rats for 5 days (n = 8/group, n = 32). Bodyweight gain decreased in all FB1-treated groups after 3 days, while bodyweight decreased (10×) after 5 days. Feed intake and liver weight decreased (5×, 10×). Clinical chemistry indicated increased total protein, albumin, cholesterol, AST, ALT, and gamma-GT (10×). Histopathology revealed apoptosis, mitosis, hydropic change, mild steatosis, and pericentral glycogen depletion (10×). Shotgun lipidomics showed an increase in sphingosine at 10×, with a dose-dependent depletion of longer-chain ceramide and sphingomyelin molecular species. GM3 ganglioside and free and esterified cholesterol increased linearly with FB1 dose. Arachidonic acid (AA)-containing species of ether-type phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) displayed a linear dose response; those in diacyl PE and phosphatidylinositol followed logarithmic models. Transcriptomics revealed downregulation of steroid metabolism, while the NF-kB, sphingolipid, PI3K-Akt-PTEN, and TNF signaling pathways were upregulated, critically beyond 5×.

Frass is the by-product of the larval meal industry and consists of leftover feed materials, exoskeleton shedding, and larval excrement of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). To assess the impact of dietary frass (BSFLF) on the growth, feed consumption, biochemical indices, whole-body proximate composition, serum biochemical indices, and fatty acid composition (hepatopancreas) of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), an 8-week study was carried out. Juveniles were fed diets with different inclusion of BSFLF levels (0%, 10%, and 20%) in a recirculating aquaculture system, with each diet randomly assigned to a triplicate group of 90 fish (10 fish per tank), with an initial weight of 119.35 ± 30.97 g stocked into 250 L tanks. The study found that increasing dietary frass led to increased growth rates, relative growth rate, weight gain, and protein efficiency ratios, and to decreased feed conversion ratios. Within both total phospholipid and triglyceride fatty acid compositions, the 20% dietary frass increased proportions of saturated and omega-3 fatty acids while decreased the oleic acid (C18:1n9) proportion. To sum up, the use of BSFLF, notably at a 20% inclusion level, as a source of dietary protein has the potential to significantly improve the overall productivity of common carp.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life has remained low in Ghana, despite strong evidence of benefits to babies/infants that supports the practice. This study is a preliminary assessment of the adherence to EBF among mothers attending the postnatal clinic. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, involving 85 breastfeeding mothers who attended the postnatal clinic at the Holy Family Hospital, Techiman. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic information and adherence to EBF. A total of 85 mothers and their babies (50 females and 35 males) participated in the study. Out of this total, 45.9% (39/85) were exclusively breastfed, while 54.1% (46/85) were non-exclusively breastfed. About 17.6% of the mothers with Junior High School (JHS) education exclusively breastfed their babies compared to those with Senior High School (SHS) (15.3%) and tertiary (12.9%) (p > 0.05). Babies who were not exclusively breastfed were 12.9% (11/85), 17.6% (15/85), and 23.5% (20/85) for mothers with JHS, SHS, and tertiary education respectively (r = 0.182, p = 0.096). The distribution of weight classification among exclusive and non-exclusively breastfed babies was significantly different (χ2 = 13.583, p 0.001). The findings of this study provide a preliminary assessment of adherence to EBF in Techiman, Ghana. Exclusive breastfeeding practices appear suboptimal. Education and working status of mothers negatively impact adherence on exclusive breastfeeding. Interventions emphasizing the continuous education of mothers could promote exclusive breastfeeding.