Aflatoxins (AFs) are the most detrimental mycotoxin, potentially hazardous to animals
and humans. AFs in food threaten the health of consumers and cause liver cancer. Therefore, a safe,
efficient, and friendly approach is attributed to the control of aflatoxicosis. Therefore, this study
aimed to evaluate the impacts of Chlorella vulgaris (CLV) on hepatic aflatoxicosis, aflatoxin residues,
and meat quality in quails. Quails were allocated into a control group; the CLV group received CLV
(1 g/kg diet); the AF group received an AF-contaminated diet (50 ppb); and the AF + CLV group
received both treatments. The results revealed that AF decreased the growth performance and
caused a hepatic injury, exhibited as an increase in liver enzymes and disrupted lipid metabolism.
In addition, AF induced oxidative stress, exhibited by a dramatic increase in the malondialdehyde
(MDA) level and decreases in glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and
glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Significant up-regulation in the inflammatory cytokine
(TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) mRNA expression was also documented. Moreover, aflatoxin residues
were detected in the liver and meat with an elevation of fat% alongside a decrease in meat protein%.
On the other hand, CLV supplementation ameliorated AF-induced oxidative stress and
inflammatory condition in addition to improving the nutritional value of meat and significantly
reducing AF residues. CLV mitigated AF-induced hepatic damage, decreased growth performance,
and lowered meat quality via its antioxidant and nutritional constituents. |
