Embryo injected with Ochratoxin A induced jejunum injury in ducklings by activating the TLR4 signaling pathway: Involvement of intestinal microbiota

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin that causes intestinal injury in humans and various animal species. OTA may lead to intestinal injury in offspring due to the maternal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings. The results showed that OTA disrupted the jejunum tight junctions in hatching ducklings, and promoted the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. And this inflammatory response was caused by the activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway. Moreover, embryo injected with OTA could cause damage to the intestinal barrier in 21-day-old ducks, characterized by shortened villi, crypt hyperplasia, disrupted intestinal tight junctions, increased level of LPS in the jejunum, activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, OTA induced oxidative stress in the jejunum. And dysbiosis of gut microbiota was mainly characterized by an increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Megamonas, Fournierella, and decreased the relative abundance of Alistipes and Weissella. Interestingly, embryo injected with OTA did not induce these changes in the jejunum of antibiotics-treated 21-day-old ducks. In conclusion, embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings by activating the TLR4 signaling pathway, which involvement of intestinal microbiota. [Display omitted] •Embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury of hatching ducklings was mediated by the TLR4 signaling pathway.•OTA could induce jejunum injury in 21-day-old ducks by regulating gut microbiota and activating the TLR4 signaling pathway.•Embryo injected with OTA did not induce jejunum injury in antibiotics-treated 21-day-old ducks.•The injection of OTA during the embryonic period could induce jejunum injury, and this effect can persist for up to 21 days.