Ameliorative effect of a novel enzymatic detoxifier against natural field levels of mycotoxins in the broiler chicken diet

Abstract

Mycotoxins are considered hidden dangers that threaten the poultry industry globally because they suppress the immunity of birds, reduce their production, and increase their chance of being infected with diseases, which exposes the poultry industry to enormous economic losses. Therefore, this investigation aimed to assess the effectiveness of VemoZyme Detox®, a novel enzymatic detoxifier, in mitigating the detrimental consequences of mycotoxin contamination in broiler chickens. The experiment involved 10,000-day-old, Cobb 500 broiler chicks, which were allotted into two groups of 5000 birds each as follows: T1: received a control basal diet; and T2: birds were provided with a basal diet supplemented with VemoZyme Detox®. The birds underwent comprehensive monitoring, including evaluations of growth performance, blood parameters, mycotoxin levels, hepatic histopathological alterations, and litter bacteriological counts. Broilers receiving dietary VemoZyme Detox® exhibited significant improvements in various aspects, including growth performance, reduced mortality rates, and more favorable feed conversion ratios. Moreover, the enzymatic supplement played a protective role in maintaining hepatic and renal health, as evidenced by reductions in blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, and creatinine. Importantly, although there was no significant difference in mycotoxin levels (zearalenone, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1) within the feed, VemoZyme Detox® had a significant impact on decreasing mycotoxin levels, particularly those of zearalenone and fumonisin B1. Hepatic histological examinations also revealed healthier conditions in T2, and positive impacts extended to litter samples, as indicated by reduced counts of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts. In conclusion, the use of an enzymatic detoxifier is a promising method for counteracting the negative impacts of mycotoxin contamination in broilers. The results underscore the substantial potential of enzymatic detoxifiers for ensuring the health and productivity of broilers, opening new avenues for safer poultry production.