Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X

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Effect of toxin binder and organic acids on performance indices, serum lipid profile and health indices, carcass traits and meat quality of broiler chickens challenged with Aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture. Ilam University, Ilam, Iran. E-mail: m.karimizandi@mail.ilam.ac.ir

2 Corresponding Author, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture. Ilam University, Ilam, Iran. E-mail: h.shirzadi@ilam.ac.ir

3 Corresponding Author, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Arak University, Arak, Iran. E-mail: h-ghasemi@araku.ac.ir

4 Department of Poultry Breeding and Management. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: karimitm@modares.ac.ir

5 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture. Ilam University, Ilam, Iran. E-mail: k.taherpour@ilam.ac.ir

6 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran. E-mail: rahmatnejad@pgu.ac.ir

10.22059/jap.2025.401403.623867

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a toxin binder and organic acids on growth performance, serum lipid profile, health indices, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler chickens challenged with aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens.
Methods: A total of 420 one-day-old as hatched Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups, each with 6 replicates of 10 birds. The treatments were as follows: Control – basal diet without additives or challenges; A – basal diet, challenged with aflatoxin; AM – basal diet with toxin binder, challenged with aflatoxin; AMO – basal diet with toxin binder and organic acids, challenged with aflatoxin; ACP – basal diet, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens; ACPM – basal diet with toxin binder, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens; and ACPMO – basal diet with toxin binder and organic acids, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens. Aflatoxin B1 (500 ppb) was administered throughout the trial, and C. perfringens (1×108 cfu/mL) was introduced on day 15 for ten consecutive days. Both the toxin binder and organic acids were added at 0.2% of the basal diet.
Results: Inclusion of a toxin binder, either alone or in combination with organic acids, alleviated these negative effects of aflatoxin challenge (P<0.05), and the combined challenge with aflatoxin and C. perfringens further decreased energy and protein efficiency ratios as well as specific growth rate (P<0.05). The toxin binder alone improved specific growth rate, and its combination with organic acids enhanced energy and protein efficiency ratios. The combined challenge increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level (P<0.05). The inclusion of toxin binder lowered these values, and its effect was more pronounced when used in combination with organic acids. Inclusion of toxin binder also decreased the LDL to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, atherogenic coefficient, and cardiac risk ratio in aflatoxin- and C. perfringens -challenged birds (P<0.05). Supplementation with both toxin binders and organic acids elicited greater improvements in these physiological indices relative to the toxin binder alone. Aflatoxin and dual challenges increased cooking loss in the pectoralis major muscle and reduced press loss and dry matter content in both pectoralis major and thigh muscles (P<0.05). Aflatoxin exposure alone increased the relative weight of the heart (P<0.05), and the combined challenge reduced breast weight and increased heart and liver weights (P<0.05). The combined use of toxin binders and organic acids elicited the most pronounced improvements in these traits compared to the toxin binder alone.
Conclusion: When feed is contaminated with aflatoxin, the addition of a toxin binder to broiler diets is a beneficial strategy. In the presence of a concurrent C. perfringens infection, use of a toxin binder plus organic acids provides superior protection and performance benefits.

Keywords

References
شیرزادی، ح.، نظری، ز.، طاهرپور، ک. (2020). تأثیر پودر گیاهان آویشن زوفایی و سرخارگل بر کیفیت عضله سینه جوجه‌های گوشتی چالش‌یافته با کمپیلوباکتر ژژونی. تولیدات دامی، 22(1)، 153-164.
 

References

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An, J. S., Yun, W., Lee, J. H., Oh, H. J., Kim, T. H., Cho, E. A., Kim, G. M., Kim, K. H., Lee, S. D., & Cho, J. H. (2020). Effects of exogenous emulsifier supplementation on growth performance, energy digestibility, and meat quality in broilers. Journal of animal science and technology, 62(1), 43-51.
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Cravens, R., Goss, G., Chi, F., De Boer, E., Davis, S., Hendrix, S., Richardson, J., & Johnston, S. (2013). The effects of necrotic enteritis, aflatoxin B1, and virginiamycin on growth performance, necrotic enteritis lesion scores, and mortality in young broilers. Poultry Science, 92(8), 1997-2004.
Dev, K., Mir, N. A., Biswas, A., Kannoujia, J., Begum, J., Kant, R., & Mandal, A. (2020). Dietary synbiotic supplementation improves the growth performance, body antioxidant pool, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability in broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition, 6(3), 325-332.
El-Hamid, A., Ellakany, H., Rizk, M., Elbestawy, A., & Abdelfatah, S. (2017). Effect of Combined Clostridium perfringens Infection and Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens. Alexandria Journal for Veterinary Sciences, 52(1), 15-27.
Heidari, M., Sadeghi, A., & Rezaeipour, V. (2018). Effects of acidifier supplementation and toxin binder on performance, carcass, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology, and microbial population in broiler chickens. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 8(3), 469-476.
Karimi Torshizi, M. A., & Sedaghat, A. (2023). A consortium of detoxifying bacteria mitigates the aflatoxin B1 toxicosis on performance, health, and blood constituents of laying hens. Poultry Science, 102(5), 102601.
Khatami, S. A., Shakouri, M. D., & Evrigh, N. H. (2024). Effect of Butyric Acids Glycerides and Eugenol on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Bacteriological Examination in Broilers under Necrotic Enteritis Challenge. Poultry Science Journal, 12(2), 179-192.
Khodary, M., Nasr El-Deen, N., & Gamal El-Deen, I. (2019). Effect of experimental Clostridium perfringens infection on some immunological, hematological and biochemical values in broiler chickens. Zagazig Veterinary Journal, 47(2), 222-233.
Lai, Y., Sun, M., He, Y., Lei, J., Han, Y., Wu, Y., Bai, D., Guo, Y., & Zhang, B. (2022). Mycotoxins binder supplementation alleviates aflatoxin B1 toxic effects on the immune response and intestinal barrier function in broilers. Poultry Science, 101(3), 101683.
Liu, N., Wang, J., Gu, K., Deng, Q., & Wang, J. (2017). Effects of aflatoxin, Clostridium perfringens and yeast cell wall on the growth performance and gut health of broilers. European Poultry Science, 81, 1-10.
Lugert, V., Thaller, G., Tetens, J., Schulz, C., & Krieter, J. (2016). A review on fish growth calculation: multiple functions in fish production and their specific application. Reviews in Aquaculture, 8(1), 30-42.
Martins, I. J. (2015). Overnutrition determines LPS regulation of mycotoxin induced neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(12), 29554-29573.
Mehrim, A. I., & Salem, M. F. (2013). Medicinal herbs against aflatoxicosis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Clinical signs, postmortem lesions and liver histopathological changes. Egyptian Journal For Aquaculture, 3(1), 13-25.
Méndez-Albores, A., Nicolas-Vazquez, I., Miranda-Ruvalcaba, R., & Moreno-Martínez, E. (2008). Mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry study on the degradation of B-aflatoxins in maize with aqueous citric acid. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 3(2), 482-489.
Mesgar, A., Aghdam Shahryar, H., Bailey, C. A., Ebrahimnezhad, Y., & Mohan, A. (2022). Effect of dietary L-threonine and toxin binder on performance, blood parameters, and immune response of broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1. Toxins, 14(3), 192.
Murugesan, G., Ledoux, D., Naehrer, K., Berthiller, F., Applegate, T., Grenier, B., Phillips, T., & Schatzmayr, G. (2015). Prevalence and effects of mycotoxins on poultry health and performance, and recent development in mycotoxin counteracting strategies. Poultry Science, 94(6), 1298-1315.
Otite, S. V., Lag-Brotons, A. J., Ezemonye, L. I., Martin, A. D., Pickup, R. W., & Semple, K. T. (2024). Volatile Fatty Acids Effective as Antibacterial Agents against Three Enteric Bacteria during Mesophilic Anaerobic Incubation. Molecules, 29(9), 1908.
Pelicano, E. R. L., Souza, P., Souza, H., Oba, A., Boiago, M., Zeola, N., Scatolini, A., Bertanha, V., & Lima, T. (2005). Carcass and cut yields and meat qualitative traits of broilers fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 7(3), 169-175.
Pellissery, A. J., Vinayamohan, P. G., Amalaradjou, M. A. R., & Venkitanarayanan, K. (2020). Spoilage bacteria and meat quality. Meat Quality Analysis. Elsevier, pp. 307-334.
Salgado-Tránsito, L., Del Río-García, J., Arjona-Román, J., Moreno-Martínez, E., & Méndez-Albores, A. (2011). Effect of citric acid supplemented diets on aflatoxin degradation, growth performance and serum parameters in broiler chickens. Archivos de medicina veterinaria, 43(3), 215-222.
Alkhulaifi, M. M., Alqhtani, A. H., Alharthi, A. S., Al Sulaiman, A. R., & Abudabos, A. M. (2022). Influence of prebiotic yeast cell wall extracts on growth performance, carcase attributes, biochemical metabolites, and intestinal morphology and bacteriology of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 21(1), 1190-1199.
An, J. S., Yun, W., Lee, J. H., Oh, H. J., Kim, T. H., Cho, E. A., Kim, G. M., Kim, K. H., Lee, S. D., & Cho, J. H. (2020). Effects of exogenous emulsifier supplementation on growth performance, energy digestibility, and meat quality in broilers. Journal of animal science and technology, 62(1), 43.
AOAC. (1995). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Official Methods of Analysis, 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA.
Cai, F., Huang, M., Liu, W., Wan, X., Qiu, K., & Xu, X. (2025). Dietary addition of compound organic acids improves the growth performance, carcass trait, and body health of broilers. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1536606.
Cravens, R., Goss, G., Chi, F., De Boer, E., Davis, S., Hendrix, S., Richardson, J., & Johnston, S. (2013). The effects of necrotic enteritis, aflatoxin B1, and virginiamycin on growth performance, necrotic enteritis lesion scores, and mortality in young broilers. Poultry Science, 92(8), 1997-2004.
Dev, K., Mir, N. A., Biswas, A., Kannoujia, J., Begum, J., Kant, R., & Mandal, A. (2020). Dietary synbiotic supplementation improves the growth performance, body antioxidant pool, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability in broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition, 6(3), 325-332.
El-Hamid, A., Ellakany, H., Rizk, M., Elbestawy, A., & Abdelfatah, S. (2017). Effect of Combined Clostridium perfringens Infection and Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens. Alexandria Journal for Veterinary Sciences, 52(1), 15-27.
Heidari, M., Sadeghi, A., & Rezaeipour, V. (2018). Effects of acidifier supplementation and toxin binder on performance, carcass, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology, and microbial population in broiler chickens. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 8(3), 469-476.
Karimi Torshizi, M. A., & Sedaghat, A. (2023). A consortium of detoxifying bacteria mitigates the aflatoxin B1 toxicosis on performance, health, and blood constituents of laying hens. Poultry Science, 102(5), 102601.
Khatami, S. A., Shakouri, M. D., & Evrigh, N. H. (2024). Effect of Butyric Acids Glycerides and Eugenol on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Bacteriological Examination in Broilers under Necrotic Enteritis Challenge. Poultry Science Journal, 12(2).
Khodary, M., Nasr El-Deen, N., & Gamal El-Deen, I. (2019). Effect of experimental Clostridium perfringens infection on some immunological, hematological and biochemical values in broiler chickens. Zagazig Veterinary Journal, 47(2), 222-233.
Lai, Y., Sun, M., He, Y., Lei, J., Han, Y., Wu, Y., Bai, D., Guo, Y., & Zhang, B. (2022). Mycotoxins binder supplementation alleviates aflatoxin B1 toxic effects on the immune response and intestinal barrier function in broilers. Poultry Science, 101(3), 101683.
Liu, N., Wang, J., Gu, K., Deng, Q., & Wang, J. (2017). Effects of aflatoxin, Clostridium perfringens and yeast cell wall on the growth performance and gut health of broilers. European Poultry Science, 81, 1-10.
Lugert, V., Thaller, G., Tetens, J., Schulz, C., & Krieter, J. (2016). A review on fish growth calculation: multiple functions in fish production and their specific application. Reviews in Aquaculture, 8(1), 30-42.
Martins, I. J. (2015). Overnutrition determines LPS regulation of mycotoxin induced neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(12), 29554-29573.
Mehrim, A. I., & Salem, M. F. (2013). Medicinal herbs against aflatoxicosis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Clinical signs, postmortem lesions and liver histopathological changes. Egyptian Journal For Aquaculture, 3(1), 13-25.
Méndez-Albores, A., Nicolas-Vazquez, I., Miranda-Ruvalcaba, R., & Moreno-Martínez, E. (2008). Mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry study on the degradation of B-aflatoxins in maize with aqueous citric acid. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 3(2), 482-489.
Mesgar, A., Aghdam Shahryar, H., Bailey, C. A., Ebrahimnezhad, Y., & Mohan, A. (2022). Effect of dietary L-threonine and toxin binder on performance, blood parameters, and immune response of broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1. Toxins, 14(3), 192.
Murugesan, G., Ledoux, D., Naehrer, K., Berthiller, F., Applegate, T., Grenier, B., Phillips, T., & Schatzmayr, G. (2015). Prevalence and effects of mycotoxins on poultry health and performance, and recent development in mycotoxin counteracting strategies. Poultry Science, 94(6), 1298-1315.
Otite, S. V., Lag-Brotons, A. J., Ezemonye, L. I., Martin, A. D., Pickup, R. W., & Semple, K. T. (2024). Volatile Fatty Acids Effective as Antibacterial Agents against Three Enteric Bacteria during Mesophilic Anaerobic Incubation. Molecules, 29(9), 1908.
Pelicano, E. R. L., Souza, P., Souza, H., Oba, A., Boiago, M., Zeola, N., Scatolini, A., Bertanha, V., & Lima, T. (2005). Carcass and cut yields and meat qualitative traits of broilers fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 7(3), 169-175.
Pellissery, A. J., Vinayamohan, P. G., Amalaradjou, M. A. R., & Venkitanarayanan, K. (2020). Spoilage bacteria and meat quality. Meat Quality Analysis. Elsevier, pp. 307-334.
Salgado-Tránsito, L., Del Río-García, J., Arjona-Román, J., Moreno-Martínez, E., & Méndez-Albores, A. (2011). Effect of citric acid supplemented diets on aflatoxin degradation, growth performance and serum parameters in broiler chickens. Archivos de medicina veterinaria, 43(3), 215-222.
Sugiharto, S., Yudiarti, T., Isroli, I., Widiastuti, E., Wahyuni, H., Sartono, T., Nurwantoro, N., & Al-Baarri, A. (2019). Effect of dietary supplementation of formic acid, butyric acid or their combination on carcass and meat characteristics of broiler chickens. Journal of the Indonesian Tropical Animal Agriculture 44(3), 286-294.
Ünal, K., Alagöz, E., Cabi, A., & Sarıçoban, C. (2020). Determination of the effect of some acidic solutions on the tenderness and quality properties of chicken breast meat. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 34(1), 19-23.
Vera-Álava, J. O., Arteaga-Solórzano, J. G., & Reyna-Gallegos, S. L. (2023). Organic acids, microbiota, gut health and productive response in broilers chickens: Organic Acids in Broilers Chickens. Revista Colombiana de Ciencia Animal-RECIA, 15(2), e1019-e1019.
Waskar, V., Devangare, A., Gosavi, P., Ravikanth, K., Maini, S., & Rekhe, D. (2009). Meat quality Attributes of broilers supplemented with Herbal Toxin Binder product. Veterinary World, 2(7), 274-277.
Yang, T., Du, M., Wang, X., Wang, J., Li, J., Jiang, X., Zhang, R., & Si, D. (2022). Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum on carcass traits, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of broilers. Agriculture, 12(10), 1607.
Yilmaz, S., Kaya, E., Karaca, A., & Karatas, O. (2018). Aflatoxin B1 induced renal and cardiac damage in rats: protective effect of lycopene. Research in Veterinary Science, 119, 268-275.
Zabiulla, I., Malathi, V., Swamy, H., Naik, J., Pineda, L., & Han, Y. (2021). The efficacy of a smectite-based mycotoxin binder in reducing aflatoxin B1 toxicity on performance, health and histopathology of broiler chickens. Toxins, 13(12), 856.
Zhang, M., Li, Q., Wang, J., Sun, J., Xiang, Y., & Jin, X. (2022). Aflatoxin B1 disrupts the intestinal barrier integrity by reducing junction protein and promoting apoptosis in pigs and mice. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 247, 114250.
Zou, Y., Liu, S.-B., Zhang, Q., & Tan, H.-Z. (2023). Effects of Aflatoxin B1 on growth performance, carcass traits, organ index, blood biochemistry and oxidative status in Chinese yellow chickens. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 85(9), 1015-1022.
Sugiharto, S., Yudiarti, T., Isroli, I., Widiastuti, E., Wahyuni, H., Sartono, T., Nurwantoro, N., & Al-Baarri, A. (2019). Effect of dietary supplementation of formic acid, butyric acid or their combination on carcass and meat characteristics of broiler chickens. Journal of the Indonesian Tropical Animal Agriculture, 44(3), 286-294.
Ünal, K., Alagöz, E., Cabi, A., & Sarıçoban, C. (2020). Determination of the effect of some acidic solutions on the tenderness and quality properties of chicken breast meat. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 34(1), 19-23.
Vera-Álava, J. O., Arteaga-Solórzano, J. G., & Reyna-Gallegos, S. L. (2023). Organic acids, microbiota, gut health and productive response in broilers chickens: Organic Acids in Broilers Chickens. Revista Colombiana de Ciencia Animal-RECIA 15(2), e1019-e1019.
Waskar, V., Devangare, A., Gosavi, P., Ravikanth, K., Maini, S., & Rekhe, D. (2009). Meat quality Attributes of broilers supplemented with Herbal Toxin Binder product. Veterinary World, 2(7), 274-277.
Yang, T., Du, M., Wang, X., Wang, J., Li, J., Jiang, X., Zhang, R., & Si, D. (2022). Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum on carcass traits, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of broilers. Agriculture, 12(10), 1607.
Yilmaz, S., Kaya, E., Karaca, A., & Karatas, O. (2018). Aflatoxin B1 induced renal and cardiac damage in rats: protective effect of lycopene. Research in Veterinary Science, 119, 268-275.
Zabiulla, I., Malathi, V., Swamy, H., Naik, J., Pineda, L., & Han, Y. (2021). The efficacy of a smectite-based mycotoxin binder in reducing aflatoxin B1 toxicity on performance, health and histopathology of broiler chickens. Toxins, 13(12), 856.
Zhang, M., Li, Q., Wang, J., Sun, J., Xiang, Y., & Jin, X. (2022). Aflatoxin B1 disrupts the intestinal barrier integrity by reducing junction protein and promoting apoptosis in pigs and mice. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 247, 114250.
Zou, Y., Liu, S.-B., Zhang, Q., & Tan, H.-Z. (2023). Effects of Aflatoxin B1 on growth performance, carcass traits, organ index, blood biochemistry and oxidative status in Chinese yellow chickens. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 85(9), 1015-1022.
 
Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X
Volume 28, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 91-109
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