Effect of Protexin probiotics supplementation to aflatoxin contaminated diet on performance of Japanese quail

Effect of Protexin to diminish negative consequences of feeding aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminated diet on performance، immune response، meat quality and ileal microbial flora were examined using 320 seven-day-old Japanese quails fed four treatments [control diet (without additives)، diet containing 2. 5 mg AFB1/kg)، diet containing 150 mg Protexin/kg، diet containing 2. 5 mg AFB1/kg+150 mg Protexin/kg] with four replicates and 20 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed intake of birds fed probiotic diet was higher than those birds in control group (P<0. 05). Weight gain in birds fed aflatoxin contaminated diet was lower than birds in other treatments (P<0. 05). Humoral immunity response in quails related to aflatoxin and probiotic groups was lower and higher than control group، respectively (P<0. 05). Skin thickness increase after 48h challenging with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in birds fed aflatoxin contaminated diet was lower than the other groups (P<0. 05). Concentration of malondialdehyde (after freezing meat for 30 days) in the meat of aflatoxin fed birds was higher than the other birds (P<0. 05). Population of E. coli and lactic acid bacteria in birds fed protexin or aflatoxin+protexin was lower and higher than the two other groups، respectively (P<0. 05). Based on the result of this research، dietary inclusion of protexin probiotics into aflatoxin contaminated diet could improve immunity response and intestinal microbial population in Japanese quails.