Effectiveness of maifanite in reducing the detrimental effects of aflatoxin B1 on hematology, aflatoxin B1 residues, and antioxidant enzymes activities of weanling piglets

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of maifanite, which is mainly composed of aluminosilicate, in reducing the adverse effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) on hematology, AFB(1) residues, and antioxidant enzymes activities in weaning piglets. A total of 32 (9.28 +/- 0.17 kg BW) individually housed crossbred piglets (Duroc x Landrace x Large white) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 8 replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments included 2 AFB(1) levels (5.3 and 372.8 mu g/kg) and 2 maifanite levels (0% and 1%). No differences in average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain to feed ratio were observed among treatments. Ingestion of the AFB(1)-contaminated (AF) diets (372.8 mu g/kg of AFB(1)) reduced (P < 0.05) the numbers of neutrophil, monocyte, and total leukocyte. There were no effects of AFB(1) on gamma glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase activities, and total protein, albumin, urea N, total bilirubin, IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations in serum. Aflatoxin B-1 was found in the liver and kidney of piglets fed the AF diets. Piglets fed the AF diets reduced (P < 0.05) the total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities in serum. However, total superoxide dismutase activity in the liver was increased (P < 0.05) in piglets fed the AF diets compared with those fed the basal diets (5.3 mu g/kg of AFB(1)). There was an interaction (P=0.003) in erythrocyte, but piglets fed the diets containing maifanite had greater erythrocyte and lymphocyte (P=0.035) numbers than those fed the diets without maifanite. The AFB(1) levels in the liver and kidney of piglets fed the AF diet containing maifanite were 29.6% and 41.2% lower, respectively, than those of piglets fed the AF diet alone. Although there was an interaction (P=0.011), piglets fed the diets containing AFB(1) and maifanite had greater serum T-SOD activity compared with those fed the diets with no maifanite. In conclusion, the addition of maifanite to the AF diet resulted in partial restoration of hematology and antioxidant enzymes activities and reduced AFB(1) levels in the liver and kidney. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.