Effectiveness of biological decontamination methods to reduce the toxic effects of mycotoxins in animal models: a review

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by certain fungi species that pose a significant threat to animals and humans since they are widely present in foods such as cereals and animal-derived products. Biological decontamination methods use microorganisms or related compounds to reduce mycotoxin’s toxicity in susceptible animals. In this review, a comprehensive description of biological-based methods aiming at adsorbing or degrading the most significant mycotoxins is presented, along with their toxic effects in animal models and the current knowledge on decontamination mechanisms. The available data indicate that lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, enzyme preparations and microorganism compound-based products, alone or in combination, are highly efficient against dietary mycotoxins in vivo. However, no microorganism or compound can be used as a “universal solution” for all mycotoxins because of different chemical properties among mycotoxins, among other factors. The development of tailored biological-based methods for decontamination of selected mycotoxins is needed for future industrial applications aiming at reducing their toxic effects in animals and humans.