Deactivation of T-2 toxin in broiler ducks by biotransformation

Effects of 2 dietary levels (0.6 and 1.0 ppm) of T-2 toxin, and the possible protective capacity of a mycotoxin-inactivating feed additive (Detoxa Plus) were investigated in growing White Pekin ducklings in a 49-d trial comprising 6 treatment groups of 10 ducks/group. The experimental design consisted of 1 negative and 1 positive control and 4 test groups, as follows: group 1, negative control (no T-2 toxin and no feed additive added to the feeds); group 2, positive control (no T-2 toxin added, but the feeds were supplemented with feed additive at 2 kg/t); group 3, feeds were complemented with 0.6 ppm of purified T-2 toxin (no feed additive added); group 4, feeds were complemented with 0.6 ppm of T-2 toxin and 2 kg/t of the feed additive was provided; group 5, feeds were complemented with 1.0 ppm of T-2 toxin (no feed additive added); group 6, feeds were complemented with 1.0 ppm of T-2 toxin and 2 kg/t of the feed additive was provided. From wk 4 until the end of the trial, the daily BW gain of group 3 ducks was inferior to that of control ducks, and the differences in means were statistically significant (P <= 0.05) at wk 4 and 7. The final BW of this group was also significantly lower than that of the control (P <= 0.001). The BW gain of ducks in group 5 was also depressed by the toxin treatment. The adverse effect of 0.6 ppm of T-2 toxin was fully counteracted by the feed additive in terms of daily BW gain, cumulative daily BW gain, and BW at exsanguination. The T-2 toxin at both treatment levels depressed the blastogenic response of lymphocytes to nonspecific mitogens (concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin), which was counteracted by the feed additive at the lower dietary concentration of T-2 toxin. No such effect was observed with 1.0 ppm of T-2 toxin. Metabolic blood parameters and hematological data showed no consistent treatment effects. We conclude that this feed additive is able to counteract the adverse effects of T-2 toxin at dietary concentrations that might be encountered under field conditions.