Measuring Peripheral and Some Mucosal Immune Cells to Better Understand Immunomodulation by T-2 Toxin in Broilers

SUMMARY The ability of naturally-occurring low levels of food-borne toxins and environmental contaminants to alter immune function in animals has been the subject of increasing interest in recent years. A total of 96 1-d-old broiler chickens were used to evaluate the effect of feeding naturally contaminated rations with low levels (800 ppb) of T-2 toxin and the protective effect of a commercial mycotoxin eliminator on circulating and intestinal immune cells, blood biochemistry, and hematological variables. Although there were no effects on body weight, contamination with T-2 toxin lead to a significant increase in serum levels of total protein (mainly due to increased albumin levels), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and increased jejunal levels of CD3+ and Goblet cells at day 28. T-2 toxin significantly altered immune parameters, as was demonstrated by alterations in the number of circulating macrophages and suppressor macrophages, B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes from mucosa, virgin cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and terminally activated cytotoxic T-lymphocytes compared to uncontaminated control birds. The use of a mycotoxin eliminator partly compensated for the changes in immune cells. The importance of low levels of mycotoxins is still debatable. However, in this research, it is clearly demonstrated that T-2 toxins affects immune responses, possibly due to impaired gut barrier functioning and metabolic changes.