INTERVIEW FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2025 69 We observed that DON markedly impaired the natural maturation process of the intestinal microbiome, which is essential for developing robust gut health and optimal performance. Figure 3 shows vectors representing the microbiota profile of the treatments, overlaid on bacteria clusters. At 28 days, the negative control (NC - without DON in the feed) and the positive control (PC - with 8.5 ppm DON in the feed) were on opposite sides of the plot. The negative control was linked to SCFA-producing bacteria (Ruminococcus, Lachnospiraceae), while the positive control was associated with proteolytic bacteria (Yersinia enterocolitica, Clostridium botulinum). As mentioned earlier (Figure 1), these results clearly indicate that DON exposure slowed intestinal microbiota maturation and made the microbiota profile resemble those of low-performing flocks. The mycotoxin challenge resulted in a measurable delay in the establishment of a diverse, stable microbial community. Furthermore, our data revealed specific shifts in bacterial populations, with DON exposure leading to a notable increase in detrimental bacterial groups like Campylobacter jejuni while simultaneously reducing beneficial bacterial populations such as Lactobacillus salivar4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 Component 3 (10.3 %) Component 2 (19.3 %) E. coli 3 E. coli 1 Lactococcus group 2 Campylobacter jejuni Clostridium botulinum Yersinia enterocolitica Salmonella1 Campylobacter_3 Enterococcus cloacae Erysipelotrichaceae_2 Lachnospiraceae Incertae Sedis 8 Erysipelotrichaceae_3 Lachnospiraceae Incertae Sedis 9 Ruminococcaceae unclassified_5 Ruminococcaceae unclassified_3 AMA2_28d AMA1_28d PC_28d Notox AMA_28d Lactobacillus 4 NC_28d Ruminococcaceae unclassified_4 Bacteroides 8 Clostridium perfringens Enterobacteriaceae Clostridium disporicum Campylobacter concisus Fusobacterium group 2 Faecalibacterium 1 Ruminococcaceae Incertae Sedis siraeum Brenneria Figure 3. Principal component analysis of microbiota profiles for different treatments
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