This experiment investigates the effects of T-2 toxin on innate immune function of ducks and explores the protective capacity of Mycofix® Plus 5.0 and silymarin. Six groups of ducks (10 birds per group) received a diet with different combinations of the three substances for 6 weeks, where the levels of the alternative pathway of complement activation (APCA), lysozyme, and beta-lysine activity were checked on 21 and 42 days of challenge. Exposure to T-2 toxin (1mg/kg feed) initiated early immune activation, followed by dramatic decrease in all parameters by day 42. The applied mycotoxin detoxifier (15g/kg feed) demonstrated great potential to moderate the impact of the T-2 toxin on APCA and lysozyme levels but lacked a dedicated immune stimulation effect. The application of silymarin (20g/kg feed) displayed limited protection against T-2 toxin but exhibited great potential to boost innate immunity when applied alone. The experiment confirmed the immunosuppressive effect of T-2 toxin and highlighted the need for integration of mycotoxin detoxifiers in poultry diets.

To Cite This Article: Koynarski T, Nedelcheva D, Valchev I, Hristov T, Nikolov T, Kostadinov T and Binev T 2025. Mitigating T-2 toxin-induced immunosuppression in ducks: effects of mycofix® plus 5.0 and silymarin on innate immunity. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.245