Metabolomics analysis of chicks

Description

Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, poses significant health risks to animals and humans via contaminated food chains. Despite its recognized toxicity, the transgenerational effects of embryonic egg ZEN exposure on avian development and subsequent chick health remain poorly understood. In this study, embryonic egg injection technology and multi-omics approach were used to investigate the effects of embryonic egg injection of ZEN on hatching performance, post-hatch growth, and physiological health in chicks. A total of 480 Hy-line Brown embryonic eggs were administered varying ZEN doses (0, 5, 50, 500 μg/egg) on day 5 of incubation. ZEN exposure significantly reduced hatchability and initial weight, with dose-dependent decreases in net weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, and an increase in feed conversion ratio at 20 days post-hatch. Histological analysis revealed intestinal inflammation and structural damage, accompanied by gut microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by increased abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli. ZEN exposure also induced liver damage, evidenced by elevated serum biochemical markers, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Metabolomic profiling indicated significant alterations in hepatic metabolites and metabolic pathways related to lipid metabolism, autophagy, and antioxidant defense. In addition, Correlation analysis suggested that gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic metabolic disorders are interconnected, potentially mediating ZEN-induced toxicity via the gut-liver axis. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying ZEN's developmental toxicity and highlight the importance of mitigating ZEN contamination in poultry farming.

Categories

Funding

Licence