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.

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.

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