Short-term exposure to the mycotoxins zearalenone or fumonisins affects rumen fermentation and microbiota, and health variables in cattle

Thomas Hartinger; Lena Grabher; Cátia Pacífico; Barbara Angelmayr; Johannes Faas; Qendrim Zebeli

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2022.112900

Short-term exposure to the mycotoxins zearalenone or fumonisins affects rumen fermentation and microbiota, and health variables in cattle

Food Chem Toxicol. 2022 Apr:162:112900. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.112900. Epub 2022 Mar 2.

Authors

Thomas Hartinger¹, Lena Grabher², Cátia Pacífico², Barbara Angelmayr², Johannes Faas³, Qendrim Zebeli²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: thomas.hartinger@vetmeduni.ac.at.
² Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
³ BIOMIN Research Center, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria.

PMID: 35247503
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.112900

Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins (FUM) jeopardize fertility and health in cattle; yet, their toxigenic effects on rumen health and microbiota, both being crucial for animal health, are not clarified. This study determined the effects of a short-term exposure to ZEN or FUM on the rumen ecosystem, and further evaluated acute implications on health parameters. Six cows were fed a basal diet with 40% grain (dry matter basis) and exposed to either 5 mg of ZEN or 20 mg of FUM daily for two consecutive days each, separated by a 7-days washout period. The exposure to ZEN or FUM led to a reduction of Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae in the rumen. Similarly, ZEN lowered the ruminal pH and total short-chain fatty acid concentration, despite increased rumination activity of the cows. Fumonisins increased the number of observed features and significantly impacted β-diversity structure and metagenome predicted function. At the systemic level, FUM exposure suggested an immediate hepatotoxic effect, as evidenced by increased liver enzyme concentrations, which were accompanied by altered heart and respiratory rates. Similarly, ZEN increased the body temperature up to a mild fever. Concluding, short-term exposure to ZEN and FUM can harm the rumen ecosystem and acutely impair systemic health.

Keywords: Animal health; Fusarium; Mycotoxin; Rumen fermentation; Rumen microbiota.