Effects of High- and Low-Level Mycotoxin Combinations on Cecal Microbiota Composition in Broiler Chickens
This study investigated the effects of chronic dietary exposure to subclinical combinations of fumonisins (FUM), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) on the cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. Broilers were fed a control diet or diets containing different combinations and concentrations of FUM, DON, and ZEN through 35 days of age. Cecal contents collected on day 35 were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing to evaluate microbial community composition and diversity. The V3 and V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using paired-end Illumina sequencing.