<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The use of metal nanoparticles as supplements of animal diets does not always bring unambiguous results. There are many reports in the literature about the multifaceted effects of this type of supplementation on the animal organism. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to present the current knowledge of the possible application of nanometal forms in animal nutrition and its potential benefits and threats. The positive effect of nanoparticles used as feed additives has most frequently been reflected in an increase in body weight, higher average daily gain, or improvement of the FCR value. In some cases, however, the effect of nanoparticle addition to diets was indiscernible. The potent antibacterial activity of nanoparticles, especially against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, is regarded as a positive effect. In turn, the probability of their toxicity is a potential risk in application thereof. Supplementation of diets with nanometals has been accompanied by pathological changes in animal tissues, primarily in the pancreas, kidney, liver, rumen, abomasum, small intestine, adrenal glands, and brain. Additionally, at the the cellular level, nanoparticles were found to induce toxicity, inflammatory excitation, and cell death. Oral administration of nanoparticles induced a risk of malfunction of the nervous system and even impairment of cognitive processes in animals. The increasing knowledge of the possible toxic effects of nanoparticles on the animal organism suggests caution in their use in animal production and necessitates further precise investigations in this area.</p></abstract>

The use of metal nanoparticles as supplements of animal diets does not always bring unambiguous results. There are many reports in the literature about the multifaceted effects of this type of supplementation on the animal organism. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to present the current knowledge of the possible application of nanometal forms in animal nutrition and its potential benefits and threats. The positive effect of nanoparticles used as feed additives has most frequently been reflected in an increase in body weight, higher average daily gain, or improvement of the FCR value. In some cases, however, the effect of nanoparticle addition to diets was indiscernible. The potent antibacterial activity of nanoparticles, especially against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, is regarded as a positive effect. In turn, the probability of their toxicity is a potential risk in application thereof. Supplementation of diets with nanometals has been accompanied by pathological changes in animal tissues, primarily in the pancreas, kidney, liver, rumen, abomasum, small intestine, adrenal glands, and brain. Additionally, at the the cellular level, nanoparticles were found to induce toxicity, inflammatory excitation, and cell death. Oral administration of nanoparticles induced a risk of malfunction of the nervous system and even impairment of cognitive processes in animals. The increasing knowledge of the possible toxic effects of nanoparticles on the animal organism suggests caution in their use in animal production and necessitates further precise investigations in this area.

Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles in Animal Nutrition – A Review

Institute of Animal Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Biology, Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles in Animal Nutrition \u2013 A Review"}

The use of metal nanoparticles as supplements of animal diets does not always bring unambiguous results. There are many reports in the literature about the...

Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles in Animal Nutrition – A Review

Published Online: Nov 02, 2018

Page range: 879 - 898

Received: Feb 05, 2018

Accepted: May 20, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2018-0029

Keywords
metal nanoparticles, nutrition, animal production, bactericidal properties, toxicity

© 2018 Maciej Bąkowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles in Animal Nutrition – A Review

Published Online: Nov 02, 2018

Page range: 879 - 898

Received: Feb 05, 2018

Accepted: May 20, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2018-0029

Keywordsmetal nanoparticles, nutrition, animal production, bactericidal properties, toxicity

© 2018 Maciej Bąkowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
metal nanoparticles, nutrition, animal production, bactericidal properties, toxicity