IPSF: Interaction between mycotoxins and coccidia
Laying hens are affected by coccidiosis and mycotoxicosis
14 May 2025
2 minute read
By: Understanding the interaction between mycotoxicosis and coccidiosis and their effects on the reproductive tract of laying hens is important for improving poultry health and productivity. Hamid Reza Rafieian-Naeini and colleagues at the University of Georgia, US, presented a poster session on the subject during the 2025 International Poultry Scientific Forum.
The study investigated the combined effects of Eimeria mix (EM) infection (E. maxima, E. tenella, and E. acervulina, 50,000, 50,000, and 250,000 oocysts/bird respectively) and contaminated corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T2-toxin, HT2-toxin, and fumonisins) on the reproductive tract in laying hens.
A total of forty-eight laying hens at 40 weeks of age were randomly allocated and kept for a 21-day period in 4 treatments consisting of: 1) control diet without EM inoculation; 2) contaminated corn DDGS without EM challenge; 3) control diet with EM inoculation; and 4) contaminated corn DDGS with EM inoculation.
Egg production and body weight were recorded daily. Blood and oviduct were collected on day 21. Egg production and body weight decreased in the combined exposure groups compared to the mock-inoculated control group.
Eimeria infection alone showed detrimental effects on oviduct weight, length, serum estradiol level, and dominant follicles. Contaminated corn DDGS by itself did not change the aforementioned parameters. The height of primary and secondary folds in the magnum was reduced by about 61% in the EM challenge groups and 26% in the contaminated corn DDGS group, while magnum and uterus tunica muscularis thickness increased significantly in EM and contaminated corn DDGS respectively.
mRNA expression of eggshell formation genes and albumen secretion genes in the uterus and magnum was significantly downregulated in the EM challenge. However, none of the genes were affected by contaminated corn DDGS.
Contaminated corn DDGS combined with EM may lead to increased damage to the reproductive tract, greater body weight loss, and a significant decrease in egg production. Mycotoxins have a minimal effect on their interaction with Eimeria on the reproductive tract of birds. However, strict control of coccidiosis is crucial in laying hens to maintain egg production quality.
