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In vitro Interaction between Fumonisin B1 and the Intestinal Microflora of Pigs
Huu Anh Dang1, Attila Zsolnai1, Melinda Kovacs2
1Kaposvár University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár, Hungary.
Abstract:
The caecal chyme of pigs was incubated anaerobically in McDougall buffer with and without fumonisin B1 (5 μg/ml) for 0, 24 and 48 h. The plate count agar technique was applied for enumerating the amount of bacteria including aerobic, anaerobic bacteria, coliform, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus sp. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction was also performed to estimate the number of copies of the total bacteria, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and Prevotella. No significant differences in the amount of bacterial groups between the experimental (buffer, chyme, and fumonisin B1) and control 1 groups (buffer + chyme) were observed in both methods. Fumonisin B1 and hydrolysed fumonisin B1 concentration were analysed by liquid chromatograghy - mass spectrometry. There was no significant difference in FB1 concentration between the experimental and the control 2 group (buffer and fumonisin B1) at 0 h incubation, 5.185 ± 0.174 μg/ml compared with 6.433 ± 0.076 μg/ml. Fumonisin B1 concentration in the experimental group was reduced to 4.080 ± 0.065 μg/ml at 24 h and to 2.747 ± 0.548 μg/ml at 48 h incubation and was significantly less than that of in the control group. Hydrolysed fumonisin B1 was detected after 24 h incubation (0.012 ± 0 μg/ml). At 48 h incubation time, hydrolysed fumonisin B1 concentration was doubled to 0.024 ± 0.004 μg/ml. These results indicate that fumonisin B1 can be metabolised by caecal microbiota in pigs though the number of studied bacteria did not change.
Insights
Pig gut bacteria can break down fumonisin B1, a common mycotoxin. While the total bacterial count remained unchanged, this metabolism suggests a potential detoxification pathway in swine.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin frequently contaminating animal feed, posing a risk to livestock.
- The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the metabolism and detoxification of ingested compounds.
- Understanding the interaction between FB1 and the swine caecal microbiota is essential for assessing its toxicological impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of swine caecal microbiota to metabolize fumonisin B1.
- To quantify changes in fumonisin B1 and its hydrolysed form during anaerobic incubation with caecal chyme.
- To assess the impact of fumonisin B1 exposure on the populations of key bacterial groups in the swine gut.
Main Methods:
- Anaerobic incubation of pig caecal chyme with and without fumonisin B1 (5 μg/ml).
- Enumeration of aerobic, anaerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Lactobacillus sp. using plate count agar.
- Quantification of total bacteria, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Prevotella via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
- Analysis of fumonisin B1 and hydrolysed fumonisin B1 concentrations using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
Main Results:
- No significant changes in the abundance of studied bacterial groups were observed between experimental and control groups.
- Fumonisin B1 concentration significantly decreased in the experimental group over 48 hours of incubation.
- Hydrolysed fumonisin B1 was detected after 24 hours and its concentration doubled by 48 hours, indicating FB1 metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Swine caecal microbiota possesses the capability to metabolize fumonisin B1.
- The metabolism of fumonisin B1 occurs without significant alterations in the populations of major bacterial groups studied.
- This microbial metabolism represents a potential mechanism for fumonisin B1 detoxification in pigs.

