Physiological responses on aflatoxin-induced broiler eggs to Urginea epigea capped with Ag-ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract

The presence of Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and Aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) in a contaminated feed ingredient produced by moulds (fungi) has proven to be harmful to bird growth performance and reduced egg production. Furthermore, Aflatoxins, when combined, have a detrimental effect on fertilized eggs. This has a great impact on egg hatchability and embryo viability, resulting in a great economic loss. This study was carried out to investigate the physiological responses of aflatoxin-induced broiler eggs to Urginea epigea capped with Ag-ZnO nanoparticles. 1500 fertile eggs of broiler chickens were sanitized, weighed, and randomly allocated to twelve experimental treatments involving three (3) levels of dosage of AFB1 [Control = no AFB1, Positive Control =Phosphate Buffered Saline (Pbs), and 45 ng AFB1/egg], 2 levels of AFB2 (0 ng AFB2/egg and 15 ng AFB2/egg), 3 levels of Ag-ZnO [Control = Minus Ag-ZnO (without injection), Plus Ag-ZnO without extract (injected with conventional Nano- Ag-ZnO), plus Ag-ZnO with extract (injected with U. epigea extract-fabricated Nano- Ag-ZnO)] in a 3 x 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Each treatment consisted of 150 eggs with 10 replicates of 15 each. Administration of both the aflatoxins and nanoparticles was done using a syringe and needles with sterile tips at a level of 2.5 ppb, 5 ppb and 10 ppb respectively, followed by incubation in an incubator for 7, 14 and 19 days. The egg's weight, width, length, egg shape index, shell weight, albumen weight, albumen length, albumen height, yolk height, yolk weight, yolk diameter, embryo weight, embryo length, tibia length, albumen index, yolk index, and yolk index were all measured on days 7, 14, and 19 of incubation. The phyto-synthesized nano Ag-ZnO significantly reduced AF-induced toxicity in broiler embryos. However, 10 ppb of AFB1+AgZnOGreen syntheses improved the embryonic length at 19 days. Moreover, the combined effect of AFB1+AFB2+AgZnO Green syntheses and AFB2+AgZnO chemical syntheses show a strong correlation in terms of egg length and egg shape index by serving as a good indicator of egg weight. The combination of AFB1+AFB2+ Ag-ZnO Green syntheses at 2.5 ppb improved the shell weight at a duration of 7 days compare to oter treatment. The albumen weight, albumen length and yolk weight were improved in phyto-synthesized extract-treated egg embryos compared to those exposed to AF alone (P > 0.05). The result from this study shows that nano material also exhibited an antioxidant potential by reducing the damaging effects of free radicals in the embryo eggs.