Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the predominant mycotoxins that causes toxicity in broilers, with the intestine as the primary target organ. This report examines how Aflatoxin B1 damages intestinal structure and function in broilers and reviews technological advancements in detection and mitigation strategies.
The intestine: A key target of Aflatoxin B1 in broilers
The intestine is the crucial link between AFB1 intake and its adverse effects on birds. As it compromises intestinal health, nutrient breakdown and absorption will be impaired, increasing the risk of intestinal infections and reducing overall broiler productivity. In a study published in the Veterinary Medicine Science, researchers evaluated the toxicity of AFB1 (based on the results of numerous studies) by examining its effect on intestinal structure, intestinal barrier function, oxidative stress, immune response, gut microbiota and the overall toxic effects on broiler growth performance.
Climate change is increasing the risk of aflatoxin contamination, highlighting the need for effective mitigation measures across all stages of the food and feed supply chain.
The rising need for detection and mitigation
Climate change is increasing the risk of aflatoxin contamination, highlighting the need for effective mitigation measures across all stages of the food and feed supply chain, from crop production and harvest to feed processing, packaging and storage. This is why the development of new and effective methods for detecting and eliminating aflatoxins is crucial. Advances in analytical technologies and information systems have markedly enhanced the speed, accuracy and accessibility of detection methods. However, many existing decontamination approaches remain of limited efficacy or are constrained by high costs, reliance on continuous chemical inputs, and potential reductions in feed nutritional quality. This report, based on a recent study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2025), examines technological advancements in detection and mitigation strategies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, intelligent packaging, and active packaging, drawing on studies published between 2014 and 2025.
The intestine is the crucial link between AFB1 intake and its adverse effects on birds.
Intestinal damage in broilers
AFB1 compromises broiler intestinal health at multiple levels — structural, functional, immunological and microbial. The intestine becomes less able to digest food, absorb nutrients, fight pathogens or maintain barrier integrity. This cascade of damage explains why AFB1 exposure leads to poor growth, weakened immunity and major economic losses in poultry production.
Damage to the intestinal structure impairs digestion and growth
- Reduced villus height → less surface area for nutrient absorption
- Increased crypt depth → indicates tissue stress and rapid cell turnover
- Lower villus‑to‑crypt ratio (VCR) → poorer digestive efficiency
- Loss of goblet cells → weaker mucus layer and reduced protection
- Loosening of epithelial cells → compromised tissue integrity
Disruption of the intestinal barrier increases disease susceptibility
AFB1 weakens the gut’s mechanical barrier by damaging tight junction proteins. Tight junctions, which are made up of transmembrane proteins such as occludins and claudins, and intracellular structural proteins, such as the zonula occludens (ZO) proteins, are essential for epithelial cell attachment, preserving epithelial cell structure and biological activity. The consequences of intestinal barrier damage include the following:
- Increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
- Easier passage of bacteria, toxins and antigens into the bloodstream
- Higher inflammation and metabolic stress
Oxidative stress and cell damage
AFB1 generates excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in intestinal tissues, leading to lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, apoptosis (programmed cell death) and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity. AFB1 compromises antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX).
Oxidative stress weakens the intestine’s ability to repair itself.
Impaired intestinal immune function
According to the researchers, in a broiler-fed diet contaminated with 40 g/kg AFB1, significant decreases in antibody production (IgA, IgG, and IgM) and in the numbers of T and B cells were observed. In that study, T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD8), as well as cytokines (IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α), were downregulated after broilers consumed AFB1-contaminated feed. Because the gut is the largest immune organ in broilers, AFB1 contamination increases susceptibility to infections and reduces vaccine effectiveness.
Alteration of gut microbiota
AFB1 was found to disrupt the balance of beneficial and harmful microbes, resulting in increased pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Klebsiella and reduced beneficial bacteria. This disruption is typically manifested as digestive disturbances, such as diarrhoea. Overall, a disturbed microbiome further weakens immunity and nutrient absorption. A summary of some of the AFB1 doses that affected intestinal integrity is given in Table 1.
Detection and elimination of aflatoxins
Despite promising research outcomes, no single strategy appears to provide a comprehensive solution. Considerations such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, regulatory approval, and impact on nutritional quality and sustainability must guide implementation.
Continued innovation in aflatoxin elimination methods is essential. Common methods and future-oriented elimination approaches, which are illustrated in Figure 1, include the following:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
- Intelligent and Active Packaging (AP)
- Transgenic plants
Figure 1 – Methods of aflatoxin elimination: current practices and future trends.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
AI/ML are not replacements for existing methods but powerful enhancers that improve sensitivity, speed and decision-making across the entire food-feed safety system. Key aspects of AI and ML include the following:
- AI-enhanced systems facilitate early detection and rapid screening
- Predictive modelling using ML algorithms can forecast risk zones, growth likelihood or seasonal or climate‑driven contamination spikes
- AI supports the optimisation of detection technologies, reducing human error and enabling on‑site, real‑time monitoring.
Intelligent and Active Packaging (AP)
AP is especially valuable in regions where environmental conditions favour fungal growth and where routine laboratory testing is limited. Intelligent and Active Packaging (AP) is among the most promising, cost-effective and eco-friendly strategies for preventing aflatoxin contamination. It shifts feed safety from passive monitoring to real-time sensing and active intervention. AP contains active substances (antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, moisture absorbers and oxygen scavengers) that are incorporated into films, coatings or sachets. These substances slowly release protective compounds or absorb harmful ones, creating conditions that prevent fungal growth and toxin production.
Transgenic plants
Transgenic plants are presented in the review as a forward-looking, preventive strategy for reducing aflatoxin contamination directly at the crop level. Some genetically engineered plants express enzymes that break down aflatoxins into less harmful compounds or suppress aflatoxin biosynthesis, making them a powerful tool for long‑term food and feed safety.
Perspectives on detection and elimination
The researchers emphasised that prevention remains the top priority. They stated that strategies such as bioremediation, physical and chemical decontamination, and botanical interventions have shown promise in reducing aflatoxin contamination levels. However, each method has limitations with respect to cost, scalability, sensitivity and practical applicability. They highlighted the stipulation that detection and mitigation technologies should be portable (e.g., field‑ready devices or smartphone‑based sensors), low‑cost, highly sensitive, sustainable and user‑friendly. They concluded that, since no single method could fully eliminate aflatoxins, the future lies in combined approaches that are designed to maximise detoxification while preserving feed quality.
This article is based on the following publications: AflatoxinB1 (AFB1) and its toxic effect on the broiler’s intestine: A review. Veterinary Medicine and Science, Vol 9, Issue 4, 2023. Current Approaches to Aflatoxin B1 Control in Food and Feed Safety: Detection, Inhibition, and Mitigation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 26, Issue 13, 2025.
