Functional Efficacies of Humate and β-Mannanase Against Aflatoxin B1 and Deoxynivalenol in the Diets for Nursery Pigs

After in vitro mycotoxin binding validation, humate and β-mannanase were tested for mitigating the negative effects of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol. Gilts at 8.7 ± 0.5 kg body weight were allotted to four treatments: NC (uncontaminated diet); PC (contaminated diet: 150 µg aflatoxin B1 and 1100 µg deoxynivalenol per kg feed); HT (PC + humate, 0.5%); and EM (PC + β-mannanase, 800 U/kg diet). Growth performance was recorded for 42 days, and blood and tissue samples were collected for hematological and histopathological evaluations. The PC reduced (p < 0.05) serum tumor necrosis factor-α at day 28 and tended to increase (p = 0.062) immunoglobulin G (IgG), whereas the EM reduced IgG (p < 0.05) at day 42. The PC increased (p < 0.05) mean corpuscular hemoglobin and volume, which were reduced (p < 0.05) by HT or EM at day 42. The PC increased (p < 0.05) bile duct hyperplasia, which was attenuated (p < 0.05) by HT or EM. The PC reduced (p < 0.05) gain- to-feed ratio for the overall period, whereas HT increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain on days 21 to 28. These results suggest that HT and EM may mitigate mycotoxin-induced immune and hepatic damage in pigs through adsorbing mycotoxins.