Journal Article

Deoxynivalenol Induces Local Inflammation and Lesions in Tissues at Doses Recommended by the EU

Albin, Mickaël, Balbo, Luciana, Oswald, Isabelle, Soler-Vasco, Laura, Pinton, Philippe, Pierron, Alix, The company Olmix, DONAlgue project, Olmix Group, Rodriguez, Maria, State University of Londrina = Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Laffitte, Joëlle, Puel, Sylvie, ToxAlim (ToxAlim) ; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan (INP - PURPAN) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Bracarense, Ana-Paula, Biosynthèse & Toxicité des Mycotoxines (ToxAlim-BioToMyc) ; ToxAlim (ToxAlim) ; Université Toulouse III -

2024

Overview

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is frequently present in cereals at low levels, resulting in its occurrence in food and feed. DON has been proven to alter the immune response and induce inflammation in all species, with pigs exhibiting heightened sensitivity and exposure. However, no study has yet evaluated the effects of exposure to DON at the recommended levels in pig feed. In two separate trials, piglets were subjected to control feed or feed contaminated with a low level of purified DON (0.83 mg/kg feed in trial 1 and 0.85 mg/kg feed in trial 2) for either three weeks (trial 1) or two weeks (trial 2). Additionally, a group of animals exposed to 2.85 mg/kg feed of DON was included as a positive control in Trial 1. The impact of DON on porcine tissues (intestine, liver, and spleen) was evaluated through histological and qPCR analyses of immune-related genes. Additionally, biochemical analyses and acute-phase proteins were examined in plasma samples. Lesions were identified in the intestine (jejunum and ileum), the liver, and the spleen of pigs receiving diets contaminated with low and high concentrations of DON. The low level of DON also resulted in impaired expression of genes associated with intestinal barrier integrity, intestinal immune responses, and liver function. In conclusion, the results of the two trials demonstrate the impact of DON exposure even at doses below the recommended level of 0.9 mg/kg feed set by the European Union. This suggests that the current recommended level should be reconsidered to ensure the optimal health and well-being of pigs.

• Publisher: MDPI,CCSD,MDPI AG
• Subject: Animal Feed / Animals / Apoptosis / Biomarkers / Cytokines / Diet / Dosage and administration / European Union / Feeds / Food Contamination - analysis / Gene expression / Health aspects / Hogs / Inflammation / Inflammation - chemically induced / Kinases / Lesions / Life Sciences / Liver / Liver - drug effects / Liver - metabolism / Liver - pathology / Mycotoxins / Oxidative stress / Physiological aspects / Protein synthesis / Proteins / Small intestine / Spleen / Spleen - drug effects / Spleen - metabolism / Spleen - pathology / Substances / Swine / Toxicity / Toxicology / Trichothecenes - toxicity / Well being