Response of the hepatic transcriptome to aflatoxin B1 in ducklings

This study was conducted to determine the effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) on the hepatic transcriptome in ducklings through RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Twenty four, 1-day-old ducklings were divided into 4 treatment groups. Each group received an oral dose of AFB(1) at 0,10, 20, 40 mu g/kg BW per day for 2 weeks. Administration of 20 and 40 mu g/kg BW of AFB(1) significantly decreased body weight, feed intake, serum total protein and albumin, while increasing serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, and hepatic histopathological lesions. Furthermore, RNA was extracted from the liver of ducklings administrated 0 and 40 mu g/kg BW of AFB(1). Two RNA-Seq libraries were created from pooled samples and produced over 149 M reads, totaling 14.9 Gb of sequence. Approximately 96,953 predicted transcripts were assembled, 749 of which had significant differential expressions (>= 2-fold) between the control and AFB(1) treatment. GO and KEGG pathway analysis results showed that many genes involved in phase I metabolism, phase II detoxification, oxidation-reduction process, carcinogenesis, apoptosis and cell cycle, and fatty acid metabolism were affected by AFB(1) exposure. Conclusion, this study determined the hepatic transcriptome responded to AFB(1) exposure, and provide candidate genes can be targeted to prevent and/or reduce aflatoxicosis in ducklings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.