Aflatoxin B1 aggravates susceptibility to E. ovinoidalis and intestinal damage by destroying intestinal barrier and mitochondrial function in lambs

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widespread in the environment, soil, food crops and animal feeds, and causing a global public health and food safety problem. Ingestion of mycotoxins by animals leads to a range of metabolic, physiological and immunological disturbances that provide the basis for the development of other diseases. Sheep coccidiosis has received widespread attention as an important disease that is widely prevalent worldwide and causes serious economic losses to the livestock industry.Previous studies have reported that AFB1 can cause changes in gut microflora, structural destruction, enhancement of intestinal permeability and inhibition of intestinal tight junction function, thus leading to the destruction of intestinal barrier. Moreover, coccidia have also been found to cause the destruction of the intestinal barrier. The effects of AFB1 exposure during the period on barrier function, immune homeostasis, gut microbiome characteristics, and intestinal metabolites in coccidia-challenged lambs were further evaluated by histopathological screening of the targeted gut.