A novel zearalenone lactonase can effectively mitigate zearalenone-induced reproductive toxicity in gilts.

Zymdetox Z-2000 is a novel zearalenone (ZEN) lactonase produced by Bacillus subtilis that can biodegrade ZEN to hydrolyzed ZEN and decarboxylated hydrolyzed ZEN with much lower estrogenic activity. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Zymdetox Z-2000 in mitigating the adverse effects of ZEN on the growth performance and reproductive health of gilts. A total of 80 crossbred Landrace × Yorkshire gilts (9.82 ± 0.79 kg) were allocated into five groups and received a basal diet (BD; CON), BD supplemented with 0.4 mg/kg ZEN (ZEN), BD plus ZEN with 0.01% Zymdetox Z-2000 (ZEN-Zym), BD plus ZEN with 0.01% coated Zymdetox Z-2000 (ZEN-CoZym), and BD plus ZEN with 0.1% B. subtilis (ZEN-Bs), respectively, for 28 days. Compared to the CON group, ZEN treatment reduced the body weight gain of the gilts, increased vulva area and vaginal and uterus indices, and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and estradiol (E2) concentration. ZEN treatment also induced ovaries histopathology changes, decreased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in uterus but increased T-AOC in ovaries, and increased ZEN concentration in stomach and duodenum than those of the CON group. Interestingly, dietary supplementation with the three products effectively alleviated these ZEN-induced adverse effects, as Zymdetox Z-2000 and coated Zymdetox Z-2000 showed better mitigating effects than B. subtilis. In conclusion, ZEN exposure impaired the growth and reproductive health of gilts, while dietary supplementation with Zymdetox Z-2000 and coated Zymdetox Z-2000 can effectively alleviate ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity in gilts.