Mitigation of aflatoxin B1-induced toxicopathology and immunosuppression in broilers using a multimodal antioxidant
Muhammad Asad Ali1, Muhammad Abdullah Arshad1, Aisha Khatoon2
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
Abstract:
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of poultry feed impairs growth, immunity, and organ function, causing substantial economic losses. This study evaluated the protective efficacy of a multimodal, water-soluble antioxidant formulation (HI-RESIST®) against AFB1-induced toxicosis in broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old Indian River broilers were randomized into six groups (n = 40): control, AFB1 (150 µg/kg feed), HI-RESIST® 1 (1 mL/L water), HI-RESIST® 2 (2 mL/L), AFB1 + HI-RESIST® 1, and AFB1 + HI-RESIST® 2. Treatments continued for 35 days. Outcome measures included body weight and feed intake, mortality, relative weights of thymus, bursa, liver, and kidney, innate (carbon-clearance assay) and cell-mediated (avian tuberculin) immune responses, humoral responses (SRBC, HI titers to Newcastle disease virus and H9 avian influenza), hematology (TEC, TLC, PCV, Hb), and serum biochemistry (ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, IL-33, BUN, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin), together with gross and histopathology of thymus, bursa, liver, and kidney. Dietary AFB1 produced the expected picture of aflatoxicosis: reduced feed intake and body weight gain, increased mortality, lymphoid organ involution, suppressed phagocytic and lymphoproliferative responses, lower antibody titers, anemia and elevated hepatic/renal biomarkers, and characteristic hepatic and renal histopathology (p < 0.05). HI-RESIST® supplementation ameliorated these effects in a dose-dependent manner; the 2 mL/L dose restored performance, immune parameters, hematobiochemical indices, and tissue morphology toward control values more effectively than 1 mL/L (statistically significant differences versus AFB1; p < 0.05). HI-RESIST® alone showed no adverse effects and, in some endpoints, enhanced immune and growth measures relative to control. In conclusion, HI-RESIST® administered in drinking water (particularly at 2 mL/L) substantially attenuated AFB1-induced immunotoxicity, hepatonephrotoxicity, and growth depression in broilers. These findings support the potential use of multimodal antioxidant supplementation as a practical strategy to mitigate aflatoxicosis in poultry; field validation and mechanistic studies are recommended.