Metabolic parameters of ewes receiving diets containing aflatoxin and zearalenone with addition of modified glucomannan

Abstract

The micotoxicoses are causing great losses of production in ruminants, being aflatoxin (AFLA) and zearalenone (ZEA) the major mycotoxins found in foods preserved. These mycotoxins have effect on the metabolism animal through the anabolic action of metabolites of the ZEA, and the liver injury caused by AFLA. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the sorbent modified glucomannan on metabolic parameters of sheep submitted to diets containing AFLA and ZEA. For this, 34 females were used and they were divided into 6 groups (ZEA; ZEA + ADS; AFLA; AFLA + ADS; CONTROL + ADS; CONTROL), receiving 1.0 mg/kg of ZEA, 1.5 mg/kg of AFLA and/or 2 kg/ton of sorbent. The ZEA decreased serum levels of glucose, for the CONTROL (p < 0.05), however, the sorbent not influence the levels of glucose, with no difference between groups ZEA and ZEA + ADS. The ZEA increased levels of AST and GGT compared to group CONTROL (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of AST were higher in the group ZEA (p < 0.05) when compared to the group ZEA+ADS. Still, the aflatoxin caused a reduction in the levels of albumin, for physiological values of sheep. Thus, from these results it was concluded that ZEA caused metabolic alterations in sheep, and the modified glucomannan was effective in reducing the possible liver aggression caused by this mycotoxin, shown by the decrease in the levels of AST.