In feed contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an alternative method to reduce the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis, according to researchers. Thus, they say, apart from its excellent nutritional value, yeast can also be used as a mycotoxin adsorbent.

Aflatoxins (AF) are the most important mycotoxins produced by toxigenic strains of various Aspergillus spp, according to R. P. Pizzolitto at Brazil's Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto and co-authors there and Universidad Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Biological decontamination of mycotoxins using microorganisms is a well-known strategy for the management of mycotoxins in feeds. S. cerevisiae strains have been reported to bind AFB1.

The aim of their study, published in Poultry Science, was to evaluate the ability of S. cerevisiae CECT 1891 in counteracting the deleterious effects of AFB1 in broiler chicks.

Experimental aflatoxicosis was induced in six-day-old broilers by feeding them 1.2mg AFB1 per kg of feed for three weeks, and the yeast strain was administrated in feed (1,010 cells per kg), in the drinking water (5×10⁹ cells per litre), or a combination of both treatments.

A total of 160 chicks were randomly divided into eight treatments (four repetitions per treatment).

Growth performance was measured weekly from days 7 to 28 and serum biochemical parameters, weights and histopathological examination of livers were determined at day 28.

AFB1 significantly decreased bodyweight gain, feed intake and impaired feed conversion rate. Moreover, AFB1 treatment decreased serum protein concentration and increased liver damage.

The addition of S. cerevisiae strain to drinking water, to diets contaminated with AFB1, showed a positive protection effect on the relative weight of the liver, histopathology and biochemical parameters.

Furthermore, dietary addition of the yeast strain to drinking water alleviated the negative effects of AFB1 on growth performance parameters.

Reference

^{Pizzolitto R.P., M.R. Armando, M.A. Salvano, A.M. Dalcero and C.A. Rosa. 2013. Evaluation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an antiaflatoxicogenic agent in broiler feedstuffs. Poult. Sci. 92(6):1655-1663. doi: 10.3382/ps.2012-02846}