Occurrence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in commercial fish feed: an initial study.

The control of mycotoxins is a global challenge not only in human consumption but also in nutrition of farm animals including aquatic species. Fusarium toxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), are common contaminants of animal feed but no study reported the occurrence of both mycotoxins in fish feed so far. Here, we report for the first time the occurrence of DON and ZEN in samples of commercial fish feed designed for nutrition of cyprinids collected from central Europe.

Effects of ergot alkaloids on liver function of piglets as evaluated by the (13)C-methacetin and (13)C-α-ketoisocaproic acid breath test.

Ergot alkaloids (the sum of individual ergot alkaloids are termed as total alkaloids, TA) are produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which infests cereal grains commonly used as feedstuffs. Ergot alkaloids potentially modulate microsomal and mitochondrial hepatic enzymes. Thus, the aim of the present experiment was to assess their effects on microsomal and mitochondrial liver function using the (13)C-Methacetin (MC) and (13)C-α-ketoisocaproic acid (KICA) breath test, respectively.

Effects of ergot alkaloids in feed on performance and liver function of piglets as evaluated by the ¹³C-methacetin breath test.

Ergot alkaloids (the sum of individual alkaloids is termed as total alkaloids, TA) are mycotoxins of the fungus Claviceps purpurea and might adversely affect the performance and aspects of liver physiology of pigs. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of feeding ergot alkaloids to piglets on performance and liver function by using the ¹³C-methacetin breath test. Two ergot batches were mixed into piglet diets resulting in 5 and 6 mg (Ergot 17-low and -high) and 9 and 21 mg TA/kg (Ergot 19-low and -high) and compared to an ergot free Control group.

Future consequences and challenges for dairy cow production systems arising from climate change in Central Europe - a review.

It is well documented that global warming is unequivocal. Dairy production systems are considered as important sources of greenhouse gas emissions; however, little is known about the sensitivity and vulnerability of these production systems themselves to climate warming. This review brings different aspects of dairy cow production in Central Europe into focus, with a holistic approach to emphasize potential future consequences and challenges arising from climate change.

Determination of very low stable isotope enrichments of [(2)H(5)]-phenylalanine in chicken liver using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Stable isotope labeled amino acids are frequently used to examine nutritive effects on protein synthesis. This technique is characterized by tracing the incorporation of the label into newly synthesized proteins. In the present investigation, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of very low enrichment of protein-bound l-[(2)H(5)]-phenylalanine ([(2)H(5)]-phe) in chicken liver.

A chronic oral exposure of pigs with deoxynivalenol partially prevents the acute effects of lipopolysaccharides on hepatic histopathology and blood clinical chemistry.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria, and deoxynivalenol (DON), a prevalent Fusarium-derived contaminant of cereal grains, are each reported to have detrimental effects on the liver. A potentiating toxic effect of the combined exposure was reported previously in a mouse model and hepatocytes in vitro, but not in swine as the most DON-susceptible species. Thus, pigs were fed either a control diet (CON) or a Fusarium contaminated diet (DON, 3.

Deoxynivalenol and E.coli lipopolysaccharide alter epithelial proliferation and spatial distribution of apical junction proteins along the small intestinal axis.

We investigated a proposed synergistic effect of deoxynivalenol (DON) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on small intestinal architecture and epithelial barrier integrity in pigs. Crypt depth and intestinal cell proliferation were analyzed, as well as expression of zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) and β-catenin of the apical junction complex along the small intestine. Barrows (26.

The effects of iodine level and source on iodine carry-over in eggs and body tissues of laying hens.

In the presented study the effect of different iodine (I) levels and sources in hen feed on the iodine concentration of different tissues, blood serum, and eggs of laying hens was studied. For this purpose, two experiments were conducted with 30 laying hens each. In these experiments feed was enriched with KI and Ca(IO(3))(2), respectively, at 0 (Control), 0.

The plasma clearance of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is decreased in endotoxemic pigs.

The plasma elimination kinetics of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was investigated in male castrated pigs (40.4±3.7 kg) when infused intravenously either alone (100 μg/kg/h, n=6) or together with lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 7.

Effects of free air carbon dioxide enrichment and drought stress on the feed value of maize silage fed to sheep at different thermal regimes.

Information about the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and drought on the feed value of maize silage and interactions with the thermal environment during feeding is limited. A free air carbon dioxide enrichment facility was operated in a maize field to generate an elevated CO2 concentration of 550 ppm. Drought was induced by the exclusion of precipitation in one half of all experimental plots.

Effect of niacin supplementation on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrient flow at the duodenum in lactating dairy cows fed a diet with a negative rumen nitrogen balance.

The aim of the present experiment was to ascertain if a daily niacin supplementation of 6 g/cow to lactating dairy cow diets can compensate for the decrease in rumen microbial fermentation due to a negative rumen nitrogen balance (RNB). A total of nine ruminally and duodenally fistulated lactating multiparous German Holstein cows was used. The diets consisted of 10 kg dry matter (DM) maize silage and 7 kg DM concentrate and differed as follows: (i) Diet RNB- (n = 6) with energy and utilisable crude protein (CP) at the duodenum (uCP) according to the average requirement of the animals, but with a negative RNB (-0.

Effect of niacin supplementation on digestibility, nitrogen utilisation and milk and blood variables in lactating dairy cows fed a diet with a negative rumen nitrogen balance.

The aim of the present experiment was to determine if a niacin supplementation of 6 g/d to lactating dairy cow diets can compensate negative effects of a rumen nitrogen balance (RNB) deficit. A total of nine ruminally and duodenally fistulated lactating multiparous German Holstein cows were successively assigned to one of three diets consisting of 10 kg maize silage (dry matter [DM] basis) and 7 kg DM concentrate: Diet RNB- (n = 6) with energy and utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (uCP) according to the average requirement of the animals but with a negative RNB (-0.41 g N/MJ metabolisable energy [ME]); Diet RNB0 (n = 7) with energy, uCP and a RNB (0.

Effects of conjugated linoleic acids fed to dairy cows during early gestation on hematological, immunological, and metabolic characteristics of cows and their calves.

The aim of the present experiment was to test the stimulation ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expressed as stimulation index (SI) of newborn calves and of their dams fed a control fat supplement (CON, n=6) or 50 and 100g/d of a CLA-containing fat supplement (CLA50, n=5, and CLA100, n=6, respectively) during the preceding lactation period for 182 d after calving. The total intake of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA by groups CLA50 and CLA100 amounted to 4 and 8 g/d each, respectively. For this purpose, blood was collected immediately after parturition from calves before and after colostrum intake, and from cows after parturition and 21 d later.

Fatty acid profile and proliferation of bovine blood mononuclear cells after conjugated linoleic acid supplementation.

Background: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are in focus of dairy cattle research because of its milk fat reducing effects. Little is known about the impact of CLA on immune function in dairy cows. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of a long term supplementation of dairy cows with CLA on the fatty acid profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and their proliferation ex vivo.

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on proliferation and cytokine expression of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and splenocytes ex vivo.

Twenty-five primiparous Holstein cows were divided into five experimental groups (five animals per group) by different feeding (control fat preparation [CON] or conjugated linoleic acid [CLA] supplement) and slaughtering times. The daily consumption of CLA was 6.0 g of the trans-10, cis-12 CLA-isomer and 5.

Technical note: identification of reference genes for gene expression studies in different bovine tissues focusing on different fat depots.

Selection of stable reference genes (REF) is important in real-time PCR data normalization. Bovine tissues such as the mammary gland, liver, muscle, and s.c.

Immunohistochemical characterization of phagocytic immune cell infiltration into different adipose tissue depots of dairy cows during early lactation.

The present study aimed to investigate whether phagocytic immune cells infiltrate into bovine adipose tissue (AT) and to study the effects of lactation and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on the invasion of phagocytic immune cells into different s.c. and visceral (v.

Effects of ergot alkaloids on liver function of piglets can be detected by the [(13)C]methacetin breath test irrespective of oral or intramuscular route of tracer administration.

Ergot alkaloids (sum=total alkaloids, TA) originate from the phyto-pathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea and might exert feed intake depressing and hepatotoxic effects on animals. The aim of the study was to evaluate TA effects on performance and liver function of piglets with the [(13)C]methacetin breath test and two routes of tracer administration (orally, p.o.

Lipolysis in early lactation is associated with an increase in phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 in adipose tissue of dairy cows.

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 is activated in the context of triacylglycerol hydrolysis in adipose tissue in monogastric animals. This study describes AMPKα1 protein expression and the occurrence of its phosphorylated form (pAMPKα1) in different adipose tissue depots as influenced by time and postpartum diet in dairy cows. Biopsy samples were obtained from subcutaneous (SCAT) and retroperitoneal (RPAT) adipose tissues of 20 Holstein cows 21 d prepartum (ap) and 1 and 21 d postpartum (pp).

Bovine haptoglobin as an adipokine: serum concentrations and tissue expression in dairy cows receiving a conjugated linoleic acids supplement throughout lactation.

The present study aimed to characterize serum haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations throughout an entire lactation period in both primi- and multiparous cows and to compare them to the Hp mRNA expression in liver and - in view of Hp being potentially an adipokine - also in different subcutaneous (s.c.) and visceral fat depots.

Urinary excretion and metabolism of procyanidins in pigs.

Scope: Aim of this study was to investigate urinary excretion and metabolism of procyanidins a group of secondary plant metabolites with many beneficial health effects described in literature.

Methods And Results: To investigate the metabolism of procyanidins in the absence of flavan-3-ols, centrifugal partition chromatography was used for their reduction in a grape seed extract to a level of almost zero. After administration of the monomer reduced grape seed extract (mredGSE) containing procyanidins B1, B2, B3, B4, C1 to pigs flavan-3-ols, their methyl derivatives, dimeric and trimeric procyanidins were determined in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on body composition, body fat mobilization, protein accretion, and energy utilization in early lactation dairy cows.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of trans-10,cis-12 and cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on body composition, mobilization or accretion of body fat and protein mass, as well as the energy metabolism of dairy cows during the first 105 d in milk (DIM). For this purpose, a comparative slaughter experiment was conducted with 25 primiparous German Holstein cows. The experiment started at 1 DIM with the slaughter of 5 animals of an initial group receiving no CLA supplement.

Systemic and local effects of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) are not alleviated by dietary supplementation of humic substances (HS).

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a control diet (CON) or a Fusarium toxin contaminated diet (FUS) with and without HS (CON-HS and FUS-HS, respectively) on pigs during a 10-week growth trial starting at 35.1±3.2 kg live weight (n=12/group).

Influence of various amounts of fumaric acid on performance and parameters of the acid-base balance of growing bulls fed with grass or maize silage.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the potential methane reducer fumaric acid on the fattening performance and acid-base balance of growing bulls fed two different silage types as roughage (maize and grass silage). A total of 62 fattening bulls (German Holstein breed, initial body weight: 266 +/- 42 kg), randomly assigned to eight feeding groups, received four levels of fumaric acid (0, 100, 200 or 300 g/d) at each silage type. The daily feed and water intake and the live weight were measured over the whole testing period of 280 days.

Hormone-sensitive lipase protein expression and extent of phosphorylation in subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissues in the periparturient dairy cow.

Lipomobilization is essential for dairy cows to balance the energy requirement for milk production in early lactation. This study aimed to determine the role of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and its activation by phosphorylation at Ser 660 (HSLp660) and 563 (HSLp563) in different adipose tissue depots as influenced by time and postpartum diet in dairy cows. Biopsy samples were obtained from s.