Dietary Catalase Supplementation Alleviates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Broiler Chickens.

Catalase (CAT) can eliminate oxygen radicals, but it is unclear whether exogenous CAT can protect chickens against deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplemental CAT on antioxidant property and gut microbiota in DON-exposed broilers. A total of 144 one-day-old Lingnan yellow-feathered male broilers were randomly divided into three groups (six replicates/group): control, DON group, and DON + CAT (DONC) group. The control and DON group received a diet without and with DON contamination, respectively, while the DONC group received a DON-contaminated diet with 200 U/kg CAT added. Parameter analysis was performed on d 21. The results showed that DON-induced liver enlargement ( < 0.05) was blocked by CAT addition, which also normalized the increases ( < 0.05) in hepatic oxidative metabolites contents and caspase-9 expression. Additionally, CAT addition increased ( < 0.05) the jejunal CAT and GSH-Px activities coupled with T-AOC in DON-exposed broilers, as well as the normalized DON-induced reductions ( < 0.05) of jejunal villus height (VH) and its ratio for crypt depth. There was a difference ( < 0.05) in gut microbiota among groups. The DON group was enriched ( < 0.05) with some harmful bacteria (e.g., , , , , and /) that elicited negative correlations ( < 0.05) with jejunal CAT activity, and VH. DONC group was differentially enriched ( < 0.05) with certain beneficial bacteria (e.g., , , and ) that could benefit intestinal antioxidation and morphology. In conclusion, supplemental CAT alleviates DON-induced oxidative stress and intestinal damage in broilers, which can be associated with its ability to improve gut microbiota, aside from its direct oxygen radical-scavenging activity.