The Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Raw Materials and Fish Feeds in Europe and the Potential Effects of Deoxynivalenol (DON) on the Health and Growth of Farmed Fish Species—A Review

The first part of this study evaluates the occurrence of mycotoxin patterns in feedstuffs and fish feeds. Results were extrapolated from a large data pool derived from wheat (n = 857), corn (n = 725), soybean meal (n = 139) and fish feed (n = 44) samples in European countries and based on sample analyses by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the period between 2012–2019. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was readily present in corn (in 47% of the samples) > wheat (41%) > soybean meal (11%), and in aquafeeds (48%). Co-occurrence of mycotoxins was frequently observed in feedstuffs and aquafeed samples. For example, in corn, multi-mycotoxin occurrence was investigated by Spearman’s correlations and odd ratios, and both showed co-occurrence of DON with its acetylated forms (3-AcDON, 15-AcDON) as well as with zearalenone (ZEN). The second part of this study summarizes the existing knowledge on the effects of DON on farmed fish species and evaluates the risk of DON exposure in fish, based on data from in vivo studies. A meta-analytical approach aimed to estimate to which extent DON affects feed intake and growth performance in fish. Corn was identified as the ingredient with the highest risk of contamination with DON and its acetylated forms, which often cannot be detected by commonly used rapid detection methods in feed mills. Periodical state-of-the-art mycotoxin analyses are essential to detect the full spectrum of mycotoxins in fish feeds aimed to prevent detrimental effects on farmed fish and subsequent economic losses for fish farmers. Because levels below the stated regulatory limits can reduce feed intake and growth performance, our results show that the risk of DON contamination is underestimated in the aquaculture industr

Time- and Dose-Dependent Effects of Dietary Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at Organism and Tissue Level

This study with juvenile rainbow trout evaluated the effects of dietary exposure to deoxynivalenol (DON) at industrially relevant doses (up to 1.6 mg/kg) on growth performance, the liver, and the gastrointestinal tract. Fifteen groups of 30 fish each were given one of five dietary treatments in triplicate: (1) control diet (CON; DON < 100 µg/kg feed), (2) naturally DON-contaminated diet (ND1) with a DON content of 700 µg/kg in the feed, (3) ND2 with a DON content of 1200 µg/kg feed, (4) a pure DON-contaminated diet (PD1) with 800 µg/kg of DON in the feed, and (5) PD2 with DON at a concentration of 1600 µg/kg in the feed. The feeding trial lasted eight weeks: six weeks of restrictive feeding followed by two weeks of ad libitum feeding. Exposure to DON during restrictive feeding for six weeks did not affect the growth performance of trout but did lead to a reduction in retained protein in fish fed with higher doses of DON in the ND2 and PD2 groups. During the two following weeks of ad libitum feeding, feed intake was similar among all groups, but body weight gain was lower in the ND2 and PD2 groups and feed efficiency was higher in PD2 (week 8). Histopathological assessment revealed liver damage, including altered nuclear characteristics and haemorrhages, in groups fed higher doses of natural DON (ND2) after just one week of restrictive feeding. Liver damage (necrosis and haemorrhage presence in ND2) was alleviated over time (week 6) but was again aggravated after ad libitum exposure (week 8). In contrast, gastrointestinal tract damage was generally mild with only a few histopathological alterations, and the absence of an inflammatory cytokine response was demonstrated by PCR at week 8. In conclusion, ad libitum dietary exposure of rainbow trout to either natural or pure DON resulted in reduced growth (dose-dependent), while restrictive exposure revealed time-dependent effects of natural DON in terms of liver damage

Transgenerational effects of innate immune activation in broiler breeders on growth performance and immune responsiveness

The impact of transgenerational effects on growth performance and immunity has not yet been studied extensively within the poultry husbandry sector. An important factor is the impact of the hens on the physical well-being and fitness to the environment of the offspring. This study is the first to investigate the effect of stimulating the maternal innate immune system with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or β-glucan on growth performance and immune responses in the next generation. Transgenerational effects and consequences of these maternal treatments were further examined using a necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge model in the offspring. We show that offspring of LPS-treated broiler breeders have a higher feed efficiency from 14 to 21 days of age, that is, the period just after the NE challenge. Moreover, more broiler chickens with intestinal lesions after the NE challenge were found in the offspring of the LPS-treated broiler breeders. Both the LPS and β-glucan maternal treatments resulted in transgenerational effects on blood-derived monocytes by showing a tendency of decreased IL1β mRNA levels after ex vivo LPS stimulation. These data are a first indication that broiler breeder hens can affect immune responsiveness and feeding efficiency of their offspring in a transgenerational manner

Longitudinal study of ESBL Escherichia coli carriage on an organic broiler farm.

To determine the molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E) collected during a longitudinal study on an organic broiler farm in order to investigate clonal expansion and horizontal gene transfer

Longitudinal study of ESBL Escherichia coli carriage on an organic broiler farm.

To determine the molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E) collected during a longitudinal study on an organic broiler farm in order to investigate clonal expansion and horizontal gene transfer

Quantification of transmission of livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs

Antimicrobial resistance in pigs becomes a public health issue when resistant organisms transfer from pigs to humans. Pigs are a large reservoir for livestock-associated (LA-)MRSA and people in contact with pigs are at risk for infection with LA-MRSA. Transmission and persistence of LA-MRSA within a pig population contributes to the maintenance of this zoonotic reservoir. Current knowledge on colonization and transmission of LA-MRSA in pigs is limited and mainly based on observational field surveys. Two experiments were performed to colonize pigs and quantify transmission of LA-MRSA between pigs. In the first experiment, colonization of six-week old piglets failed after intranasal inoculation, confirming the complexity of MRSA-colonization. In the second experiment, naive pigs got colonized after exposure to orally inoculated pigs. Subsequently, these contact-infected pigs transmitted MRSA to a new group of naive pigs. The reproduction ratio, R0, was estimated with a SIS-model to quantify transmission between the first and second contact pigs as this resembles more the natural transmission. Two scenarios were evaluated, with different assumptions regarding infection status of individual pigs. R0 varied between 3.7 and 4.3 and was significantly above 1, indicating a high probability of persistence of LAMRSA, even without antimicrobial use

Longitudinal study on transmission of MRSA CC398 within pig herds

BACKGROUND: Since the detection of MRSA CC398 in pigs in 2004, it has emerged in livestock worldwide. MRSA CC398 has been found in people in contact with livestock and thus has become a public health issue. Data from a large-scale longitudinal study in two Danish and four Dutch pig herds were used to quantify MRSA CC398 transmission rates within pig herds and to identify factors affecting transmission between pigs. RESULTS: Sows and their offspring were sampled at varying intervals during a production cycle. Overall MRSA prevalence of sows increased from 33% before farrowing to 77% before weaning. Overall MRSA prevalence of piglets was>60% during the entire study period. The recurrent finding of MRSA in the majority of individuals indicates true colonization or might be the result of contamination. Transmission rates were estimated using a Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible (SIS-)model, which resulted in values of the reproduction ratio (R0) varying from 0.24 to 8.08. Transmission rates were higher in pigs treated with tetracyclins and β-lactams compared to untreated pigs implying a selective advantage of MRSA CC398 when these antimicrobials are used. Furthermore, transmission rates were higher in pre-weaning pigs compared to post-weaning pigs which might be explained by an age-related susceptibility or the presence of the sow as a primary source of MRSA CC398. Finally, transmission rates increased with the relative increase of the infection pressure within the pen compared to the total infection pressure, implying that within-pen transmission is a more important route compared to between-pen transmission and transmission through environmental exposure. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that MRSA CC398 is able to spread and persist in pig herds, resulting in an endemic situation. Transmission rates are affected by the use of selective antimicrobials and by the age of pigs

Management et bien-être en systèmes de production alternatifs de volailles: Apports du projet PPILOW

National audienceAlternative poultry systems that are particularly widespread in France and in Europe, are recognized for their management and product quality. However, while access to the free range enables animals to express more behaviours they are motivated to perform, it can also be a risk factor for animal health. These systems are also affected by ethical considerations such as the end of the culling of layer male chicks and the associated regulations. In the European PPILOW project, a number of welfare issues for broilers and laying hens are being studied with different practitioners in organic and free-range production systems, including the use of dualpurpose strains as an alternative to the elimination of male chicks, and the study of the individual variability in broiler range use. The EBENE® application, fine-tuned with PPILOW practitioners and technicians, was explained to free-range broiler farmers in France and in Belgium to assess its usefulness. The various innovations proposed as part of this project are the subject of economic assessment and are evaluated through multi-criteria analyses according to the One Welfare concept, embracing the goals of sustainability as well as animal and human welfare.Les systèmes alternatifs de volailles, particulièrement répandus en France et en Europe, sont reconnus pour la qualité de l’élevage et des produits proposés. Cependant, si l’accès au parcours extérieur permet aux animaux d’exprimer davantage de comportements de l’espèce, il peut également être un facteur de risque pour la santé de l’animal. Ces systèmes sont également concernés par les considérations éthiques telles que la fin de l’élimination des poussins mâles de souche ponte et la réglementation associée. Dans le projet européen PPILOW, plusieurs verrous au bien-être des poulets de chair et des poules pondeuses sont étudiés aux différents maillons des systèmes de production biologiques et de plein air, et s’intéressent notamment à l’utilisation de souches à double-fin comme alternative à l’élimination des poussins mâles, la variabilité individuelle de l’utilisation du parcours par le poulet de chair. L’application EBENE®, affinée avec les éleveurs et techniciens dans PPILOW, a été présentée à des éleveurs de poulets plein-air français et belges pour appréhender son intérêt. Les différentes innovations proposées dans le cadre de ce projet font l’objet d’évaluations économiques et multicritères selon le concept One Welfare englobant les objectifs de durabilité, mais aussi de bien-être animal et humain

The PPILOW project: Innovations improving welfare in low input and organic pig and poultry farms

International audienceThe PPILOW project aims to co-construct innovations to improve Poultry and Pig Welfare in Low-input outdoor and Organic farming systems through a multi-actor approach. PPILOW implements a participatory approach for proposing and studying welfare-improvement levers. It will provide a combination of practical solutions that can be applied at a pan-European level with specific adjustments depending on citizen’s expectations and the target market. The multi-actor approach consists in involving end-users including farmers, breeding companies, feed producers, consumer associations, retailers, advisers, processors, and scientists in National Practitioner Groups (NPG) in six participating countries. PPILOW partners facilitate the groups by connecting NPG at European level, transferring scientific information, interacting with partners engaged in animal experiments, and co-creating innovations rising from NPG-specific demands. They co-build with PPILOW partners welfare self-assessment tools (development of the PIGLOW app for pigs and refinement of the EBENE® app for poultry), and innovative breeding, feeding, and rearing strategies and techniques to improve the welfare of animals. They co-design protocols, test innovations on farm, and disseminate the results. In turn, they receive insights on methods and scientific results, and inputs from other NPG reinforcing the value of the expected outcomes. Approaches focus on avoiding physical damage and the elimination of layer male chicks, on reducing boar taint of intact male pigs, promoting positive behaviours, animal health, and robustness through field studies with pigs and poultry. Multicriteria analyses of the most effective levers of welfare improvement will be performed to evaluate their economic, social, and environmental impacts based on the ‘One Welfare’ concept; economic and business models will also be developed. To ensure the rapid uptake of the project results by end-users, the close involvement of PPILOW’s NPG throughout the EU will ensure disseminationactivities and the facilitation of change. The PPILOW project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement N°816172. www.ppilow.eu