Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) are among the most common mycotoxins that can contaminate feed and have detrimental impact on pig health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet containing DON and ZEA at 2.8 ± 0.3 and 1.20 ± 0.4 mg/kg, respectively, on the systemic and intestinal immune response in weaned pigs, as well as the ability of antioxidant (AOX) supplements such as vitamins, Se and quercetin to restore the normal immune status. Results showed that DON and ZEA may affect the immune response by altering the proportion of different blood immune cell populations without changing the production of major immune markers in healthy pigs. The addition of AOX agents to the contaminated feed did not reverse the negative effects exerted by DON and ZEA; however, Se and quercetin supplements were able to affect immunity by modulating the percentages of various blood immune cell subsets, as well as the production of some mediators of inflammation and intestinal cell renewal.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.