Search Results (46)

Bisphenol analogs and their derivatives have been identified in human tissue and our living environment. There are major concerns over exposure to bisphenol analogs, especially the low-dose- and mixture-related toxicities, as they are considered potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may cause adverse effects in multiple organ systems. The liver is a critical organ responsible for an array of functions, e.g., metabolism, immunity, digestion, detoxification and vitamin storage, in addition to being a leading chemical target site. In this literature review of multiple species, we discussed the metabolism of bisphenol analogs in the liver, which was followed by discussions of bisphenol analog-induced liver toxicity in various species, including humans, rodents (mice and rats) and other species (chicken, pig, sheep, etc.). Further, the mechanisms of action and markers of liver damage such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation and fibrosis were discussed. It was concluded that bisphenol analogs can produce toxic effects on the liver in different species through various mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications and disruptions of the cell signaling pathways, gene expression, microbiome and metabolome. More research should be conducted to study the toxicity of bisphenol analogs other than bisphenol A and the underlying mechanisms of action, and in particular the potential for causing dysbiosis. Understanding the mechanisms of liver injury holds promise for improving the prediction of liver toxicity from bisphenol analogs and other environmental chemicals, and their risk assessment and legislation. Full article

The chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) and fowl adenovirus serotype E8b (FAdV E8b) are pathogens that cause aplastic anemia and inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in chickens, respectively. The co-infection of CIAV and FAdV E8b poses a significant threat to poultry health, potentially worsening clinical symptoms and increasing mortality rates. This study aimed to explore the combined pathogenic effects of FAdV E8b and CIAV co-infection on one-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The results showed that co-infection led to significantly higher clinical scores and mortality rates compared to FAdV E8b infection alone. Additionally, there were different tissue distribution patterns for FAdV E8b between the single infection and co-infection groups, indicating potential changes in viral tropism. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated markers of liver and/or muscle damage in both the FAdV E8b infection group and the co-infection group, consistent with the viral infection process. These findings suggest that co-infection with FAdV E8b and CIAV can intensify clinical signs and mortality, and may potentially alter viral replication and tissue tropism in chickens. This study establishes a foundation for future investigations into the underlying mechanisms governing the interaction between CIAV and FAdV E8b during co-infection. Full article

Mycotoxins like aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), and ochratoxin A (OTA) pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Fruit pomace extracts, rich in natural nutrients and bioactive compounds, have the potential to enhance animal health and mitigate mycotoxin toxicity. This study evaluated a novel liquid anti-mycotoxin solution (LAS), a combination of grape and olive pomace extract administered to broiler chickens through drinking water (2 L:1000 L) for 1–42 days under a natural multi-mycotoxin challenge. The 42-day trial with 288 one-day-old male Ross 308AP95 chicks included four experimental groups: a negative control (NC); NC+LAS; a positive control (PC) group fed a diet containing 80 μg/kg AFs, 1600 μg/kg FBs, and 50 μg/kg OTA; and PC+LAS. The growth performance, oxidative defense genes (liver), and stress biomarkers (blood) were analyzed. Mycotoxin exposure negatively affected body weight (BW), the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the oxidative defense mechanism. LAS supplementation improved BW and the FCR, reduced Nrf-2 expression, and enhanced mycotoxin detoxification via lower EPHX1 expression. Though the LAS did not fully restore performance to NC levels, it significantly mitigated mycotoxin-induced damage. This study concluded that the LAS is a promising solution to improve broiler resilience against moderate to high mycotoxin exposure. Full article

Nowadays, the risk of oral intake of microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) by poultry is high. In some industrially polluted areas, the chicken feed samples contain 9.60 × 10² ± 1.09 × 10² MPs per kilogram (mean ± std) in wet weight, and the Cd content in chicken feed has been detected to reach up to 5.61 mg/kg. But scholars still focus more on the toxic effects of MPs and Cd on the liver and intestines of aquatic animals. There are few studies that use poultry as research animals and consider these two organs as an integrated system to investigate the toxicity of MPs and Cd on the gut-liver axis and the mechanisms of inflammation. Therefore, in this research, broilers were used as experimental subjects, and experimental models were established by single or combined exposure of MPs (100 mg/L) and Cd (140 mg/kg) to explore the effects of MPs and Cd on the intestinal mucosae and liver of broilers, as well as the mechanisms behind these toxic effects. In this study, the degree of adverse effects (decreased expression of tight junction proteins, changes in intestinal morphology, abundance and diversity of intestinal flora, liver inflammation) caused by the single exposure group was higher than that of the combined exposure group. The results showed that MPs and Cd induced intestinal damage and liver inflammation in broilers by interfering with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and intestinal flora homeostasis. The toxicity of combined exposure was lower than that of single exposure. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a kind of mycotoxin that widely contaminates food and feed and poses a threat to poultry farming. As a natural extract, glycyrrhizin acid (GA) has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Although studies have revealed the toxic effects of ZEA on the liver, the mechanism by which GA reduces ZEA’s toxic protective glandular stomach remains unclear. In order to study the therapeutic effect of GA on tissue damage caused by ZEA, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to compare the expression of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis. The results showed that ZEA can induce inflammation in tissues and cells, inducing apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, GA can alleviate the toxic effects caused by ZEA and protect cells. Dietary GA significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of glandulae and inhibited the overexpression of NFκB/IκB-α and its mediated inflammatory response. Moreover, GA decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic factors and necrosis factors, thereby alleviating apoptosis and necrosis of chicken glandular stomach cells. At present, the mechanism of ZEA damage to livers and lungs has been confirmed by studies. However, there have been no studies on GA alleviating the damage caused by ZEA to the glandular stomach. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of GA alleviating the damage caused by ZEA in the glandular stomach through in vivo and in vitro experimental comparison. The results may provide some reference for the solution of feed contamination. Full article

The cytokines IFN-γ and CD154 have been well established, and they play pivotal roles in immune protection against Salmonella in mice, but their effects and specific mechanisms in Salmonella-infected chickens are less understood. In this study, we conducted animal experiments to screen the highly immunoprotective chIFN-γ-chCD154 fusion protein compared with single protein chIFN-γ or chCD154 in white Leghorn chickens. The results showed that compared with separate pretreatments with chIFN-γ and chCD154, the fusion protein, chIFN-γ-chCD154, synergistically increased survival of infected chickens, reduced bacterial load in feces and organs, and attenuated pathological damage to the liver and cecum. Pretreatment with chIFN-γ-chCD154 also increased humoral immune responses, expression of the tight junction proteins zo-1, occludin, and claudin-1, and the relative abundance of Enterococcus_cecorum, Lactobacillus_helveticus, and Lactobacillus_agilis, which protect against intestinal inflammation. Compared with single protein pretreatment, chIFN-γ-chCD154 significantly upregulated STAT1, IRF1, and GBP1 in infected chickens while decreasing mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In summary, damage to the cecal epithelial barrier and the inflammation induced by S. typhimurium infection was alleviated by chIFN-γ-chCD154 pretreatment through a mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and IFN-γ/STAT/IRF1/GBP1 pathways. Full article

Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis are among the most common diseases affecting poultry, with economic impact due to reduced production and the costs of treatment and prevention. Eimeria invasion contributes to gut damage that promotes the growth of other harmful pathogens, such as Clostridium perfringens. Coccidiostats, with toltrazuril as an example, are widely used to control these infections. In this study, we assessed the effects of Eimeria spp. infection and coinfection with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens on chicken weight and toltrazuril concentrations, along with two metabolites—toltrazuril sulfoxide and toltrazuril sulfone—using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The analysis of liver and muscle samples showed lower levels of residues in groups challenged with Eimeria spp. In the case of combined Eimeria and C. perfringens infection, no significant differences were observed. These findings suggest that the combination of Eimeria and C. perfringens does not significantly alter the residue levels of toltrazuril and its metabolites, providing valuable insight into the pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril in poultry under infection conditions. This research contributes to optimizing drug use and residue management in poultry production. Full article

This study investigated the potential of chicken byproduct hydrolysates (CBH) characterized by a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides (<1.35 kDa) and larger peptides (<17.5 kDa) as a treatment for metabolic syndrome (MS), from a histological and histopathological point of view. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CBH obtained using plant proteases (BP: B. pinguin, BK: B. karatas, BRO: bromelain) on the histological and histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney in an MS-induced murine model. Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 5): (1) standard diet (STD); (2) MS with a hypercaloric diet (MS + HC); (3) CBH-BP (200 mg/kg of body weight); (4) CBH-BK (200 mg/kg of body weight); (5) CBH-BRO (200 mg/kg of body weight); (6) carnosine (CAR) 50 mg/kg of body weight. Liver and kidney samples were processed by conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histological techniques, Masson’s trichrome stain (MTS), and the periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) histochemical method. A scoring scale was used for the histopathological evaluation with scores ranging from 0 (normal tissue) to 4 (severe damage). Results: CBHs demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect (p < 0.05) on hepatic and renal morphological alterations induced by MS. Hepatic scores for lipid inclusions, vascular congestion, and cellular alteration were all reduced to below two. Similarly, renal scores for tubular degeneration, vascular congestion, and dilation of Bowman’s space were also decreased to less than two. The therapeutic efficacy of CBHs was comparable to that of the positive control, CAR (β-alanyl-L-histidine). Conclusions: CBH-BP, CBH-BK, and CBH-BRO treatments reduced morphological alterations observed in liver and kidney tissues, which is relevant since from a histological and histopathological point of view, it allows us to understand at the cellular and tissue level the effects that these treatments can have on a living organism, indicating a potential to improve organ health in people with MS. Full article

In this paper, we report on the use of a purpose-built hybrid solid-state microwave and radiofrequency generator operating at frequencies of 2.45 GHz and/or 480 kHz for cancer ablation in various tissues. The hybrid generator was tested ex vivo on chicken breast and bovine liver and has demonstrated that the high accuracy of the power delivered to the sample can be achieved by controlling the emitted power versus the temperature profile of the treated sample. In particular, the hybrid generator incorporates control systems based on impedance or reflected power measurements that allow controlled ablation without causing unwanted carbonization and without including areas where tissue damage is not desired. The results of the ex vivo tests showed that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could be effective for performing controlled ablations with minimally invasive probes, such as cardiac pathologies, small lesions, and tissues with particular composition, while microwave ablation (MWA) could be optimal for performing large ablations in highly vascularized tissues, such as liver cancer, where it is necessary to achieve higher temperatures. Full article

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a liver condition that is linked to overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a form of NAFLD/MASLD that progresses over time. While steatosis is a prominent histological characteristic and recognizable grossly and microscopically, liver biopsies of individuals with NASH/MASH may exhibit several other abnormalities, such as mononuclear inflammation in the portal and lobular regions, hepatocellular damage characterized by ballooning and programmed cell death (apoptosis), misfolded hepatocytic protein inclusions (Mallory–Denk bodies, MDBs), megamitochondria as hyaline inclusions, and fibrosis. Ballooning hepatocellular damage remains the defining feature of NASH/MASH. The fibrosis pattern is characterized by the initial expression of perisinusoidal fibrosis (“chicken wire”) and fibrosis surrounding the central veins. Children may have an alternative form of progressive NAFLD/MASLD characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, mainly in Rappaport zone 1 of the liver acinus. To identify, synthesize, and analyze the scientific knowledge produced regarding the implications of using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD in a comprehensive narrative review. The search for articles was conducted between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023, on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. This search was complemented by a gray search, including internet browsers (e.g., Google) and textbooks. The following research question guided the study: “What are the basic data on using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD?” All stages of the selection process were carried out by the single author. Of the 1783 articles found, 75 were included in the sample for analysis, which was implemented with an additional 25 articles from references and gray literature. The studies analyzed indicated the beneficial effects of scoring liver biopsies. Although similarity between alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and NASH/MASH occurs, some patterns of hepatocellular damage seen in alcoholic disease of the liver do not happen in NASH/MASH, including cholestatic featuring steatohepatitis, alcoholic foamy degeneration, and sclerosing predominant hyaline necrosis. Generally, neutrophilic-rich cellular infiltrates, prominent hyaline inclusions and MDBs, cholestasis, and obvious pericellular sinusoidal fibrosis should favor the diagnosis of alcohol-induced hepatocellular injury over NASH/MASH. Multiple grading and staging methods are available for implementation in investigations and clinical trials, each possessing merits and drawbacks. The systems primarily used are the Brunt, the NASH CRN (NASH Clinical Research Network), and the SAF (steatosis, activity, and fibrosis) systems. Clinical investigations have utilized several approaches to link laboratory and demographic observations with histology findings with optimal platforms for clinical trials of rapidly commercialized drugs. It is promising that machine learning procedures (artificial intelligence) may be critical for developing new platforms to evaluate the benefits of current and future drug formulations. Full article

Wooden breast (WB) myopathy is a pathology of the pectoralis major muscle. Wooden breast is caused by multiple factors. The exact etiopathogenesis of this myodegenerative pathology is still unclear. Fast-growing commercial lines of broilers that are selected for high breast muscle yields are more susceptible to this myopathy. The biochemical analysis of blood is used to diagnose pathologies and understand disease processes. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine and compare the changes in the blood serum biochemical parameters of Ross 308 chicken broilers without myopathy and those affected by WB myopathy. Blood samples were collected from male and female Ross 308 broilers that were 43 days old, with an average live weight of 2.98–3.09 kg. Representative blood samples were selected from broilers with WB (n = 33) and without WB (n = 33). In the laboratory, the blood was centrifugated, and biochemical tests were performed with an automated computerized biochemistry analyzer. The research results showed that broilers with WB had elevated blood serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) (p = 0.018), potassium (p = 0.010), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = 0.012). In conclusion, elevated serum levels of CK and potassium indicated that skeletal muscle cells were damaged. Moreover, increased ALT levels suggested a possible association between WB myopathy and liver damage. Additionally, these research findings underscore the diagnostic significance of CK and hint at its potential as a WB biomarker. Full article

The aims of this study were (i) to determine the effect of an algoclay-based decontaminant on the oral availability of three mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol; DON, ochratoxin A; OTA, and aflatoxin B₁; AFB₁) using an oral bolus model and (ii) to determine the effect of this decontaminant on the performance, intestinal morphology, liver oxidative stress, and metabolism, in broiler chickens fed a diet naturally contaminated with DON. In experiment 1, sixteen 27-day-old male chickens (approximately 1.6 kg body weight; BW) were fasted for 12 h and then given a bolus containing either the mycotoxins (0.5 mg DON/kg BW, 0.25 mg OTA/kg BW, and 2.0 mg AFB₁/kg BW) alone (n = 8) or combined with the decontaminant (2.5 g decontaminant/kg feed; circa 240 mg/kg BW) (n = 8). Blood samples were taken between 0 h (before bolus administration) and 24 h post-administration for DON-3-sulphate, OTA, and AFB₁ quantification in plasma. The algoclay decontaminant decreased the relative oral bioavailability of DON (39.9%), OTA (44.3%), and AFB₁ (64.1%). In experiment 2, one-day-old male Ross broilers (n = 600) were divided into three treatments with ten replicates. Each replicate was a pen with 20 birds. The broiler chickens were fed a control diet with negligible levels of DON (0.19–0.25 mg/kg) or diets naturally contaminated with moderate levels of DON (2.60–2.91 mg/kg), either supplemented or not with an algoclay-based decontaminant (2 g/kg diet). Jejunum villus damage was observed on day 28, followed by villus shortening on d37 in broiler chickens fed the DON-contaminated diet. This negative effect was not observed when the DON-contaminated diet was supplemented with the algoclay-based decontaminant. On d37, the mRNA expression of glutathione synthetase was significantly increased in the liver of broiler chickens fed the DON-contaminated diet. However, its expression was similar to the control when the birds were fed the DON-contaminated diet supplemented with the algoclay-based decontaminant. In conclusion, the algoclay-based decontaminant reduced the systemic exposure of broiler chickens to DON, OTA, and AFB₁ in a single oral bolus model. This can be attributed to the binding of the mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, dietary contamination with DON at levels between 2.69 and 2.91 mg/kg did not impair production performance but had a negative impact on broiler chicken intestinal morphology and the liver redox system. When the algoclay-based decontaminant was added to the diet, the harm caused by DON was no longer observed. This correlates with the results obtained in the toxicokinetic assay and can be attributed to a decreased absorption of DON. Full article

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a hazardous mycotoxin that often contaminates animal feed and may potentially induce severe liver damage if ingested. The liver is the primary organ responsible for AFB1 detoxification through enzyme-catalyzed xenobiotic metabolism and bile acid (BA)-associated excretion. In this study, we sought to investigate whether exogenous BA improves hepatic AFB1 detoxification to alleviate AFB1-induced liver injury in broiler chickens. Five-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three groups. CON and AFB1 received a basal diet; AFB1 + BA received a basal diet with 250 mg/kg BA for 20 days. After a 3-day pre-feed, AFB1 and AFB1 + BA were daily gavaged with 250 μg/kg BW AFB1, while CON received gavage solvent for AFB1 treatment. Dietary BA supplementation protected chickens from AFB1-induced hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress. The hepatic biotransformation of AFB1 to its metabolite AFBO was improved, with accelerated excretion to the gallbladder and cecum. Accordantly, AFB1-induced down-regulation of detoxification genes, including cytochrome P450 enzymes, glutathione S-transferases, and the bile salt export pump, was rescued by BA supplementation. Moreover, liver X receptor α, suppressed by AFB1, was enhanced in BA-treated broiler chickens. These results indicate that dietary BA supplementation improves hepatic AFB1 detoxification and excretion through LXRα-involved regulation of xenobiotic enzymes. Full article

Aflatoxin B1 is a secondary metabolite with a potentially devastating effect in causing liver damage in broiler chickens, and this is mainly facilitated through the generation of oxidative stress and malonaldehyde build-up. In the past few years, significant progress has been made in controlling the invasion of aflatoxins. Phytochemicals are some of the commonly used molecules endowed with potential therapeutic effects to ameliorate aflatoxin, by inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species and enhancing intracellular antioxidant enzymes. Experimental models involving cell cultures and broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin or contaminated diet have been used to investigate the ameliorative effects of phytochemicals against aflatoxin toxicity. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant data sources. The retrieved information reported on the link between aflatoxin B1-included cytotoxicity and the ameliorative potential/role of phytochemicals in chickens. Importantly, retrieved data showed that phytochemicals may potentially protect against aflatoxin B1-induced cytotoxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress and enhancing intracellular antioxidants. Preclinical data indicate that activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), together with its downstream antioxidant genes, may be a potential therapeutic mechanism by which phytochemicals neutralize oxidative stress. This highlights the need for more research to determine whether phytochemicals can be considered a useful therapeutic intervention in controlling mycotoxins to improve broiler health and productivity. Full article

The poultry industry is looking for the most effective sources of selenium (Se) for commercial use. Over the past five years, nano-Se has attracted a great deal of attention in terms of its production, characterisation and possible application in poultry production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary levels of inorganic and organic Se, selenised yeast and nano forms of selenium on breast meat quality, liver and blood markers of antioxidants, the ultrastructure of tissue and the health status of chickens. A total of 300 one-day-old chicks Ross 308 were divided into 4 experimental groups, in 5 replications, with 15 birds per replication. Birds were fed the following treatments: a standard commercial diet containing inorganic Se in the form of inorganic Se at the level of 0.3 mg/kg diet and an experimental diet with an increased level of Se (0.5 mg/kg diet). The use of other forms of Se (nano-Se) versus sodium selenate significantly influences (p ≤ 0.05) a higher collagen content and does not impair physico-chemical properties in the breast muscle or the growth performance of the chickens. In addition, the use of other forms of selenium at an increased dose versus sodium selenate affected (p ≤ 0.01) the elongation of sarcomeres in the pectoral muscle while reducing (p ≤ 0.01) mitochondrial damage in hepatocytes and improving (p ≤ 0.05) oxidative indices. The use of nano-Se at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg feed has high bioavailability and low toxicity without negatively affecting the growth performance and while improving breast muscle quality parameters and the health status of the chickens. Full article