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Lactobacillus paracasei BEJ01 prevents immunotoxic effects during chronic zearalenone exposure in Balb/c mice

Abstract Background and aim: Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by numerous Fusarium species in pre- or post-harvest cereals. ZEN displays a potent estrogenicity in livestock and also causes severe immunological problems. The aims of this study were to isolate a new ZEN-degrading micro-organism for biological detoxification, to examine its ability to degrade ZEN in liquid medium, and to evaluate its potential for in vivo preventitive effects against ZEN (as would occur with contaminated feed)-induced immunomodulation in mice. Materials and methods: Lactobacillus paracasei BEJ01 (LP) isolated from Tunisian artisanal butter was found to display significant binding ability to ZEN in phosphate-buffered saline (i.e. 96.6%) within 24 h of incubation. The in vivo study was conducted using Balb/c mice that received either vehicle (control), LP only (at 2 × 109 cfu/l, ∼2 mg/kg BW), ZEN alone (at 40 mg/kg BW), or ZEN + LP daily for 15 d. Results: Compared to control mice, ZEN treatment led to significantly decreased body weight gains and decrements in all immune parameters assessed. The addition of LP to ZEN strongly reduced the adverse effects of ZEN on each parameter. In fact, mice receiving ZEN + LP co-treatment displayed no significant differences in the assayed parameters as compared to the control mice. The exposures to the bacteria alone had no adverse effects in the mice. Conclusion: From these data, we conclude that LP bacteria could be beneficial in human and animals for protection against immunotoxicity from ZEN at high levels and during chronic exposures.