Multicomponent mineral-phytogenic supplementation reduces Ascaridia galli shedding and systemic mycotoxin biomarkers while improving health and productive performance in laying hens.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastrointestinal helminthiasis and dietary mycotoxin exposure can concurrently impair poultry health and productivity, whereas conventional control strategies generally target these challenges separately. This study evaluated whether a multicomponent mineral-phytogenic supplement could simultaneously reduce Ascaridia galli shedding and systemic mycotoxin exposure while improving hematological, hepatic, antioxidant, and productive responses in naturally challenged laying hens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty 26-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens naturally infected with A. galli and exposed to feed naturally contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and T-2 toxin were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups (n = 25/group) for 30 days. Controls received the basal diet, whereas the experimental group received the basal diet supplemented at 170 g/kg with dried Cucurbita maxima pulp and peel, pumpkin seed meal, opoka, coquina meal, and post-frost Artemisia absinthium. Fecal and blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20, and 30. A. galli fecal egg counts, serum AFB1, deoxynivalenol-3-sulfate (DON-3S), T-2 toxin, hematological and hepatic indices, antioxidant biomarkers, and egg production and quality were evaluated.

RESULTS: Baseline measurements were comparable between groups. By day 30, expected A. galli shedding was 64.0% lower in supplemented hens than in controls (incidence rate ratio = 0.36; 95% confidence interval = 0.22-0.51; p < 0.001). Serum AFB1, DON-3S, and T-2 toxin concentrations were lower by 37.9%, 38.8%, and 41.9%, respectively. Supplemented hens showed increased erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, albumin, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, together with decreased leukocyte counts, eosinophils, hepatic transaminases, and malondialdehyde. Hen-day production increased from 86.2% to 93.8%, daily egg mass from 49.9 to 57.0 g/hen, shell thickness from 0.350 to 0.395 mm, and yolk color from 6.4 to 10.5 Roche units. No mortality or adverse clinical signs occurred.

CONCLUSION: The mineral-phytogenic supplement concurrently reduced A. galli shedding and systemic mycotoxin biomarkers while improving hematological, hepatic, antioxidant, and productive outcomes. These findings support further evaluation of this regionally sourced formulation as an integrated nutritional strategy for laying hens exposed to concurrent parasitic and mycotoxin challenges.