Effects of Dietary Deoxynivalenol on Growth Performance, Immunity, Reproductive Hormones, and Microbiome-Metabolome Responses in Immature Gilts

We evaluated the effects of different levels of DON (LD 441 and HD 1223 μg DON/kg in diet) on the growth performance, immunity, reproductive hormones, and intestinal health of immature gilts. No significant differences were observed in average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed to gain ratio between the LD group and the HD group (p > 0.05). The red blood cell count and hematocrit were higher in the LD group compared with the HD group on d 21 (p < 0.05). The gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in the LD group on d 1, 21, 28, 35, and 42 was higher (p < 0.05) compared with the HD group. The aspartate aminotransferase, total antioxidant capacity, and lactic dehydrogenase levels on d 35 were higher in the LD group than those in the HD group (p < 0.05). On d 35, the levels of interleukin 1β, interleukin-4, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ in LD were higher than those in the HD group (p < 0.05). The levels of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and complement 4 on d 35 were higher in the LD group compared with those in the HD group (p < 0.05). The gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, luteotrophic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, or estradiol did not differ between LD and HD groups throughout the experiment (p > 0.05). For fecal microbiota, Streptococcus in the HD group was reduced compared with the LD group (p < 0.05). In summary, feeding diets contaminated with 1223 μg DON/kg exerted adverse effects on serum profiles of gilts but did not affect their growth performance or reproductive hormones in the present study.