title: Fumonisins affect the intestinal microbial homeostasis in broiler chickens, predisposing to necrotic enteritis.
abstract: Fumonisins (FBs) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium fungi. This study aimed to investigate the effect of these feed contaminants on the intestinal morphology and microbiota composition, and to evaluate whether FBs predispose broilers to necrotic enteritis. One-day-old broiler chicks were divided into a group fed a control diet, and a group fed a FBs contaminated diet (18.6 mg FB1+FB2/kg feed). A significant increase in the plasma sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in the FBs-treated group (0.21 ± 0.016) compared to the control (0.14 ± 0.014) indicated disturbance of the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Furthermore, villus height and crypt depth of the ileum was significantly reduced by FBs. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a shift in the microbiota composition in the ileum in the FBs group compared to the control. A reduced presence of low-GC containing operational taxonomic units in ileal digesta of birds exposed to FBs was demonstrated, and identified as a reduced abundance of Candidatus Savagella and Lactobaccilus spp. Quantification of total Clostridium perfringens in these ileal samples, previous to experimental infection, using cpa gene (alpha toxin) quantification by qPCR showed an increase in C. perfringens in chickens fed a FBs contaminated diet compared to control (7.5 ± 0.30 versus 6.3 ± 0.24 log10 copies/g intestinal content). After C. perfringens challenge, a higher percentage of birds developed subclinical necrotic enteritis in the group fed a FBs contaminated diet as compared to the control (44.9 ± 2.22% versus 29.8 ± 5.46%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Gunther.Antonissen@UGent.be.|Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Gunther.Antonissen@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Siska.Croubels@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Siska
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Croubels
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Frank.Pasmans@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Richard.Ducatelle@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducatelle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Venessa.Eeckhaut@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Venessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eeckhaut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Mathias.Devreese@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devreese
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Marc.Verlinden@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verlinden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Freddy.Haesebrouck@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haesebrouck
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Mia.Eeckhout@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eeckhout
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Sarah.DeSaeger@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Saeger
authors.affiliation: Biomin Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria. birgit.antlinger@biomin.net.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Antlinger
authors.affiliation: Biomin Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria. barbara.novak@biomin.net.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. An.Martel@ugent.be.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Filip.VanImmerseel@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Immerseel
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D002645:Chickens; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000502:physiology; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis / Q000662:veterinary; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins