Absorption Of Mycotoxins Research Articles

The efficiency of mycotoxin binding by sorbents in the in vitro model using a naturally contaminated animal feed.

The productivity of domestic animals and the safety of food products derived from them are jeopardised by mycotoxins in animal feed. To control them, feed additives are used, which limit the absorption of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals by binding to them. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new in vitro model in experiments on the binding of mycotoxins from buffers and contaminated feed and to confirm the effect of a single sorbent or mixture in binding them. Nine mineral sorbents were tested for their efficiency binding eight mycotoxins. Two in vitro experiments were conducted to indicate the mycotoxin-binding capacity of sorbents, each specifying a buffer with one of two different pH levels reflecting gastrointestinal conditions (pH 3.5 and 7.0). The first investigated the sorbent with only the buffer and mycotoxin standards, while the second did so with the sorbent, buffer and feed naturally contaminated with mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A). The sorption was significantly lower in the trial with feed. In the first experiment at gastric pH (pH 3.5), activated charcoal bound deoxynivalenol and sepiolite bound zearalenone at 70% and 96%, respectively, whereas in the second experiment with feed, the binding was only 3% and 6%. The study underlines the challenge of finding a feed additive that would work comprehensively, binding all mycotoxins regulated by law.

In Vitro Digestion and Intestinal Absorption of Mycotoxins Due to Exposure from Breakfast Cereals: Implications for Children's Health.

Breakfast cereals play a crucial role in children's diets, providing essential nutrients that are vital for their growth and development. Children are known to be more susceptible than adults to the harmful effects of food contaminants, with mycotoxins being a common concern in cereals. This study specifically investigated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), enniatin B (ENNB), and sterigmatocystin (STG), three well-characterized mycotoxins found in cereals. The research aimed to address existing knowledge gaps by comprehensively evaluating the bioaccessibility and intestinal absorption of these three mycotoxins, both individually and in combination, when consumed with breakfast cereals and milk. The in vitro gastrointestinal method revealed patterns in the bioaccessibility of AFB1, ENNB, and STG. Overall, bioaccessibility increased as the food progressed from the stomach to the intestinal compartment, with the exception of ENNB, whose behavior differed depending on the type of milk. The ranking of overall bioaccessibility in different matrices was as follows: digested cereal > cereal with semi-skimmed milk > cereal with lactose-free milk > cereal with soy beverage. Bioaccessibility percentages varied considerably, ranging from 3.1% to 86.2% for AFB1, 1.5% to 59.3% for STG, and 0.6% to 98.2% for ENNB. Overall, the inclusion of milk in the ingested mixture had a greater impact on bioaccessibility compared to consuming the mycotoxins as a single compound or in combination. During intestinal transport, ENNB and STG exhibited the highest absorption rates when ingested together. This study highlights the importance of investigating the combined ingestion and transport of these mycotoxins to comprehensively assess their absorption and potential toxicity in humans, considering their frequent co-occurrence and the possibility of simultaneous exposure.

Evaluation of Adsorbent’s Efficiency by Using Biomarker Approaches in Farm Animals: A Systematic Review

The secondary metabolism of toxigenic fungi can produce mycotoxins, substances that are toxic for both humans and animals. Mycotoxins and their by-products found in various biological tissues are considered biomarkers, and concentrations of these substances are directly proportional to the level of exposure. Mineral adsorbents are substances that may prevent mycotoxin absorption. The aim of this review is to study the feasibility of biomarkers as tools to assess the efficiency of mineral adsorbents against mycotoxin absorption in farm animals. In the systematic review, data from the scientific literature between the 2001 and 2022 were searched based on established criteria selection and eligibility. A total of 22 articles were included. The most used species as animal models were poultry and cattle, while the most common biological samples were milk, serum, and liver. Biomarkers most frequently analyzed were aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and unmetabolized aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The most used analytical method was liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Biomarkers are adequate tools to assess the efficiency of mineral adsorbents against the aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol in farm animals, but further studies are needed to provide reliable biomarkers for other mycotoxins.

Adverse Effects of Fusarium Toxins in Ruminants: A Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

With an increased knowledge of the mechanism of action of Fusarium mycotoxins, the concept that these substances are deleterious only for monogastric species is obsolete. Indeed, most mycotoxins can be converted into less toxic compounds by the rumen microflora from healthy animals. However, mycotoxin absorption and its conversion to more toxic metabolites, as well as their impact on the immune response and subsequently animal welfare, reproductive function, and milk quality during chronic exposure should not be neglected. Among the Fusarium mycotoxins, the most studied are deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and fumonisins from the B class (FBs). It is remarkable that there is a paucity of in vivo research, with a low number of studies on nutrient digestibility and rumen function. Most of the in vitro studies are related to the reproductive function or are restricted to rumen incubation. When evaluating the production performance, milk yield is used as an evaluated parameter, but its quality for cheese production is often overlooked. In the present review, we summarize the most recent findings regarding the adverse effects of these mycotoxins with special attention to dairy cattle.

Silage mycotoxins

The silage process consists of preserving green forage. However, errors in operations during harvesting, or even at the opening of the silo, can result in colonization of fungi and production of mycotoxins. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to mitigate the negative effects of mycotoxins in the feeding of dairy cows. The objective was to review the literature on the contamination of silage by mycotoxins, including predisposing factors for contamination and ways of prevention and mitigation. The main environmental conditions that favor mycotoxin synthesis are temperature, pH and water activity. In addition, factors linked to the operation, such as delayed harvesting, delays in sealing the silo, the density of compaction or the use of damaged seals also favor fungal growth. The control of these processes in silage aims to avoid contamination by toxinogenic fungi. However, current control strategies are not entirely effective. Some safe and relatively economical measures are the use of mycotoxin adsorbents or bacterial inoculants, which can be used to reduce the absorption of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract.

Mycotoxin absorbents in dairy cattle

Ingestion of mycotoxins by animals causes damage to the production system and can still be transferred to animal products, including milk. Due to its carcinogenic and genotoxic potential, the intake of mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, is relevant to human health. The use of mycotoxin-absorbing agents has gained attention in dairy cattle nutrition. Therefore, it aimed to conduct a literature review on the use of mycotoxin absorbers in the dairy cattle diet. Mycotoxin absorbing agents can be of organic or inorganic origin, the inorganic ones being the most studied. Inorganic and organic agents have been shown to be effective in reducing the transfer of aflatoxin M1 to milk. However, the inclusion of mixed agents (organic and inorganic) is promising as a potential for mycotoxin absorption. In general, organic, inorganic and mixed absorbents showed positive results in improving the antioxidant and inflammatory status in the liver.

Mycotoxin Biomarkers in Pigs-Current State of Knowledge and Analytics.

Farm animals are frequently exposed to mycotoxins, which have many adverse effects on their health and become a significant food safety issue. Pigs are highly exposed and particularly susceptible to mycotoxins, which can cause many adverse effects. For the above reasons, an appropriate diagnostic tool is needed to monitor pig’ exposure to mycotoxins. The most popular tool is feed analysis, which has some disadvantages, e.g., it does not include individual exposure. In recent years, the determination of biomarkers as a method to assess the exposure to mycotoxins by using concentrations of the parent compounds and/or metabolites in biological matrices is becoming more and more popular. This review provides a comprehensive overview of reported in vivo mycotoxin absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and toxicokinetic studies on pigs. Biomarkers of exposure for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, T-2 toxin and zearalenone are described to select the most promising compound for analysis of porcine plasma, urine and faeces. Biomarkers occur in biological matrices at trace levels, so a very sensitive technique—tandem mass spectrometry—is commonly used for multiple biomarkers quantification. However, the sample preparation for multi-mycotoxin methods remains a challenge. Therefore, a summary of different biological samples preparation strategies is included in that paper.

Ефективність застосування технологічної кормової добавки Гепасорбекс стосовно деяких мікотоксинів

Проведено вивчення ефективності застосування технологічної кормової добавки Гепасорбекс із функціональної групи речовини для зменшення забруднення кормів мікотоксинами в лабораторних умовах. Метою роботи було встановлення in vitro ефективності застосування кормової добавки Гепасорбекс шляхом підтвердження її здатності стримувати або знижувати поглинання мікотоксинів (фумонізинів та Т2 токсину). Ефективність специфічної дії кормової добавки визначали кількісно при різних значеннях рН, що імітують зміну кислотності середовища в травному каналі тварин. Дослідження проведено у два етапи: скринінговий – з використанням розчину мікотоксину та основний – з використанням кормової суміші, який містив мікотоксини. На скринінговому етапі кормову добавку Гепасорбекс вносили у буферні розчини, які містили відповідно фумонізини та Т2-токсин у кількості 200 мкг/г. В основному досліді досліджувану кормову добавку Гепасорбекс вносили у пробу кормової суміші з розрахунку 1, 2, 5 г/кг і ретельно гомогенізували пробу. Проведено визначення величини адсорбції (в кислому середовищі) та величину десорбції (в лужному середовищі). Критерієм оцінки ефективності був практичний коефіцієнт корисної дії, який обраховувався шляхом встановлення різниці між кількістю внесеного мікотоксину та кількістю адсорбованого мікотоксину після інкубації у кислому середовищі з врахуванням величини десорбції після інкубації у лужному середовищі. Встановлено, що при скринінгових дослідженнях практичний коефіцієнт корисної дії кормової добавки стосовно фумонізинів становив 78,0 %, стосовно Т2 токсину - 70,5 %. В основному досліді виявлено, що практичний коефіцієнт корисної дії кормової добавки в залежності від дози становив стосовно фумонізинів 69,1 – 72,3 %, стосовно Т2 токсину - 38,2 - 41,6 %. Отримані результати підтверджують те, що досліджувана кормова добавка володіє вираженими адсорбційними властивостями стосовно фумонізинів та Т2-токсину.

Efficiency of use technological feed additive

The contamination of animal feed with mycotoxins is a threat to the safety of feed and represents a worldwide problem for livestock breeding. One of the most effective ways of protecting animals from mycotoxicosis is the use of feed additives with adsorption properties. The research was conducted on the basis of the laboratory of control of feed supplements and premixes of the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Preparations and Feed Additives. In order to carry out researches, a feed additive «Liatoksyl» produced by Ltd. «Sanfort-P» was used. Feed additive «Liatoksyl» is a powder of gray color with a specific odor. The composition of the feed supplement includes zeolite, bentonite, silicon oxide, fumaric acid, citric acid, and succinic acid. Feed supplement «Liatoksyl» belongs to the category of technological additives. The study of the effectiveness of the use of the feed additive Lyatoxil in relation to the ability to inhibit or reduce the absorption of mycotoxins, promote their elimination. Established, the studied feed additive possesses pronounced adsorption properties in relation to T2-toxin and fumonisins. The feed additive in acidic environment (pH 2) adsorbed 185 μg/l of fumonisin from 200 μg/l, which is 92.5%. After incubation in a weakly alkaline environment, the concentration of fumonisin in the supernatant was 3 μg / L. The adsorption activity of the feed supplement with respect to the T2 toxin was lower compared to fumonisins. Thus, in acidic environment (pH 2) adsorption was 179 μg/l of T2-toxin from the introduced 200 μg/l, which is 89.5%.The practical efficiency of the feed supplement when mixed with toxin T2 and fumonisin was mixed, but substantially lower than in screening studies. The practical efficiency of the dietary supplement «Liatoksil» in the screening study for fumonisin was 90.5%, in relation to the T2 toxin – 86.5%. This is evidently due to the fact that the fodder mixtures contain mono- and disaccharides, fatty acids, triglycerides, inorganic salts, etc., which to a certain extent react with the feed additive, reducing its effectiveness against mycotoxin. The practical efficiency of the fodder additive «Liatoksil» when applied to the feed in different doses relative to fumonisin was 70.7–74.1%, in relation to the toxin T2O – 36.1–40.5% The greatest effect was achieved when adding the feed additive «Liatoksil» to the feed in doses of 2–5 g/kg.

Aluminium Silicate Clay as Mycotoxin Adsorbent in Dairy Cattle Feed

The objective of the current study was to monitor the most common Fusarium mycotoxins Zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin (T-2) and Deoxynivalenol (DON): in the occurence in dairy cows diet and its effect on dairy cows. Livestock health, welfare and productivity may be severely compromised by consumption of DON, T-2 toxin, ZEA and by interactions among these mycotoxins. Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate (HSCAS) helps to prevent the absorption of mycotoxins in the gut to prevent its symptoms. Influence of HSCAS intake to milk yield, components of milk and dairy diseases was evaluated. Research was located in South Bohemia in Central Europe. Four different types of feed which included grain mixes, corn silage, grass silage and hay, were sampled by ELISA. All samples of surveyed types of animal feed were positive for some of the monitored mycotoxins, however any of them didn‘t exeed guide values of EU Comittee recommendation for the content of mycotoxins in livestock feed. Co-occurrence of two mycotoxins was found at 56% of feed samples. It was observed 180 cows with HSCAS intake and 180 cows in the control group. It is concluded the positive impact of HSCAS intake on somatic cells count (SCC) in the milk by significant (p<0.05) reducing their number, on average 33,000 cells/ml. The occurence of diseases on average decreased by 17%, the largest positive effect was observed in the case of metabolic disorders. The results indicate that using of HSCAS has positive effect on milk yield, components of milk and occurence of cattle diseases by reduced impact of long-term exposure to subliminal doses of mycotoxins.

Grape Pomace, an Agricultural Byproduct Reducing Mycotoxin Absorption: In Vivo Assessment in Pig Using Urinary Biomarkers.

The efficacy of four agricultural byproducts (ABPs) and two commercial binders (CBs) to reduce the gastrointestinal absorption of a mixture of mycotoxins was tested in piglets using urinary mycotoxin biomarkers as indicator of the absorbed mycotoxins. Twenty-eight piglets were administered a bolus contaminated with the mycotoxin mixture containing or not ABP or CB. Twenty-four hour urine was collected and analyzed for mycotoxin biomarkers by using a multiantibody immunoaffinity-based LC-MS/MS method. Each bolus contained 769 μg of fumonisin B1 (FB1), 275 μg of deoxynivalenol (DON), 29 μg of zearalenone (ZEN), 6.5 μg of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and 6.6 μg of ochratoxin A (OTA) corresponding to 2.2, 0.8, 0.08, 0.02, and 0.02 μg/g in the daily diet, respectively. The percentage of ABP in each bolus was 50%, whereas for the two CBs the percentages were 5.2 and 17%, corresponding to 2.8, 0.3, and 0.9% in the daily diet, respectively. The reduction of mycotoxin absorption was up to 69 and 54% for ABPs and CBs, respectively. White grape pomace of Malvasia was the most effective material as it reduced significantly (p < 0.05) urinary mycotoxin biomarker of AFB1 (67%) and ZEN (69%), whereas reductions statistically not significant were observed for FB1 (57%), DON (40%), and OTA (27%). This study demonstrates that grape pomace reduces the gastrointestinal absorption of mycotoxins. This agricultural byproduct can be considered an alternative to commercial products and used in the feed industries as an effective, cheap, and natural binder for multiple mycotoxins.

Detoksifikasi Mikotoksin Melalui Optimalisasi Fungsi Rumen dengan Pemberian Ragi (MYCOTOXIN DETOXIFICATION THROUGH OPTIMIZATION THE RUMEN FUNCTION BY YEAST)

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by some fungal species commonly found in food and feed,particularly in cereals. In intensive production systems, dairy cattle are commonly fed with cereal-richdiets and, consequently, are more exposed to micotoxins. Besides, such diet is often associated with ahigher risk of rumen acidosis which can also affect the performance and the helath of animal. In addition,the efficacy of microbial detoxification can be reduced during acidosis. For instance, some authors observeda decrease in the number of protozoa that are responsible for the degradation of some mycotoxins. Anotherconsequence of acidosis is the potential modification of ruminal absorption of mycotoxins, which until nowhas received scarce attention. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, probiotic additives have been shown toreduce the post-feeding drop in rumen pH and to increase the number of ruminal protozoa. This effect canbe positive in reducing the absorption and toxicity of mycotoxins in ruminantia.

Evaluation of two mycotoxin mitigation strategies in grow-finish swine diets containing corn dried distillers grains with solubles naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol1

A total of 1,040 growing pigs (initially, 22.9 ± 4.3 kg) were used in a 115-d study to evaluate the effects of 2 mycotoxin mitigation strategies, a preservative blend (PB) and a yeast product (YP), on the growth performance of swine fed diets containing corn dried distillers grains with solubles naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). The PB consists of preservatives, antioxidants, AA, and direct-fed microbials and is included in diets to help pigs cope with the toxic effects of ingested mycotoxins. The YP works as an adsorbent to bind and prevent the absorption of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Pigs were allotted to pens by initial BW and sex; pens were then assigned to treatments in a randomized block design with initial BW and sex serving as the blocking factors. Pens were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments consisting of a positive control (PC) containing <1 mg kg(-1) DON, a negative control (NC) formulated to contain 4 mg kg(-1) DON, NC with PB, and NC with YP. From d 0 to 42 and 42 to 84, no effect of diets containing PB or YP were observed for any of the growth criteria evaluated. From d 84 to 115, pigs fed PC or diets containing PB had improved (P < 0.05) ADG compared to pigs fed NC or diets containing YP, whereas pigs fed YP had improved (P < 0.05) ADG compared to those fed NC. Pigs fed diets containing PB or YP had improved (P < 0.05) ADFI and G:F compared to pigs fed NC. Overall (d 0 to 115), pigs fed diets containing PB had improved (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and G:F compared to pigs fed NC. These results indicate that PB may be a suitable mycotoxin mitigation strategy in growing swine fed diets naturally contaminated with DON.

Mycotoxin bioaccessibility/absorption assessment usingin vitro digestion models: a review

In the evaluation of the oral bioavailability of a mycotoxin, the first step is the determination of its bioaccessibility, i.e. the percentage of mycotoxin released from the food matrix during digestion in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that could be absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. Differentin vitro digestion models have been recently used for determination of bioaccessibility, thereby avoiding the use of more complex cell culture techniques or the use of animals in expensivein vivo experiments.In vitro methods offer an appealing alternative to human and animal studies. They usually are rapid, simple and reasonably low in cost, and can be used to perform simplified experiments under uniform and well-controlled conditions, providing insights not achievable in whole animal studies. The availablein vitro methods for GI simulation differ in the design of the system, the composition of the physiological juices assayed, as well as in the use or not of intestinal microbiota. There are models that only simulate the upper part of the GI tract (mouth-stomach-small intestine), whereas other methods include the large intestine, so that the model chosen could have some influence on the bioaccessibility data obtained. Bioaccessibility depends on the food matrix, as well as on the contamination level and the way the food/feed is contaminated (spiked or naturally). This review focuses on the currently available data regardingin vitro digestion models for the study of the bioaccessibility or absorption of mycotoxins, detailing the characteristics of each digestion step and the importance of the physiological juices employed during digestion. The effect that different factors play on mycotoxin release from the food matrix in the GI tract is also considered, and existing data on bioaccessibility of the main mycotoxins are given.

Formulation of a pectin gel that efficiently traps mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and reduces its bioavailability

We aimed to develop a new food-processing approach using pectin to reduce gastrointestinal absorption of mycotoxins. When Ca2+ is added to low-methoxyl pectin, a gel resembling an egg box-like structure forms that is able to trap certain molecules. We examined whether or not low-methoxyl amidated pectin (LMA) and low-methoxyl non-amidated pectin (LMNA) trapped the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) after being ingested. We first determined the trapping effects of LMA and LMNA on DON in vitro under conditions similar to those in the human stomach, with results showing that LMA gel trapped DON to a greater extent than the LMNA gel. We then performed in vivo experiments and demonstrated that the LMA gel containing DON reduced DON's absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. This new food-processing technique holds great promise for reducing the bioavailability of DON in contaminated food and may be useful in mitigating the effects of other mycotoxins.

Biological control strategies of mycotoxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins in Mediterranean basin crops

Fungi that belong to the genera Aspergillus , Fusarium , and Penicillium pose serious phytopathological and mycotoxicological risks at pre-harvest and post-harvest stages, as well as in processed food products because they can produce several mycotoxins. Mycotoxins pose a serious problem for animal and human health and have a significant economic impact worldwide. The Mediterranean basin is a large geographical region with a temperate climate supporting the cultivation of a wealth of field and greenhouse crops with a high risk of mycotoxin contamination. The most important mycotoxins that occur in the Mediterranean basin are aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in dried fruits and nuts, ochratoxin A in grapes and raisins as well as trichothecenes and fumonisins in cereals. A variety of chemical, biological and physical strategies have been developed to control the mycotoxigenic pathogens; to minimize mycotoxin production at pre- or post-harvest level; to contribute to decontamination and/or detoxification of mycotoxins from contaminated foods and feeds; or to inhibit mycotoxin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Biological control using microbial antagonists either alone or as part of an integrated control strategy to reduce pesticide inputs, has emerged as a promising approach for control of mycotoxins in crops, both pre- and post-harvest. Several organisms including atoxigenic Aspergilli, yeasts, bacteria and fungi have been tested for their ability to reduce both fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination. For instance, atoxigenic fungal strains are being used widely to prevent pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination of crops such as peanuts, pistachios, maize, and cottonseed in several parts of the world including the Mediterranean area. Recent advancements in the use of biocontrol strategies have led to registration of commercial products with increased practical applications for the benefit of growers in several countries.

Substances for reduction of the contamination of feed by mycotoxins: a review

The global occurrence of mycotoxins is considered to be a major risk factor for human and animal health. Contamination of different agricultural commodities with mycotoxins still occurs despite the most strenuous prevention efforts. As a result, mycotoxin contaminated feed can cause serious disorders and diseases in farm animals. A number of approaches, such as physical and chemical detoxification procedures, have been used to counteract mycotoxins. However, only a few of them have practical application. A recent and promising approach to protect animals against the harmful effects of mycotoxin contaminated feed is the use of substances for reduction of the contamination of feed by mycotoxins. These substances, so-called mycotoxin binders (MB), are added to the diet in order to reduce the absorption of mycotoxins from the gastrointestinal tract and their distribution to blood and target organs, thus preventing or reducing mycotoxicosis in livestock. Recently, the use of such substances as technological feed additives has been officially allowed in the European Union. The efficacy of MB appears to depend on the properties of both the binder and the mycotoxin. Depending on their mode of action, these feed additives may act either by binding mycotoxins to their surface (adsorption), or by degrading or transforming them into less toxic metabolites (biotransformation). Biotransformation can be achieved by mycotoxin-degrading enzymes or by microorganisms producing such enzymes. Various inorganic adsorbents, such as hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, zeolites, bentonites, clays, and activated carbons, have been tested and used as MB. An interesting alternative to inorganic adsorbents for the detoxification of mycotoxins is the use of organic binders, such as yeast cell wall components, synthetic polymers (cholestyramine, polyvinylpyrrolidone), humic substances and dietary fibres. This paper gives an overview of the current knowledge and situation in the field of MB. The most important types of MB, mechanism of their action, and their application as a part of general strategy to counteract mycotoxins are described in this review. Recent advances in the use and study of MB, as well as data of their in vitro and in vivo effectiveness are given. Problems, potential, current trends and perspectives associated with the use of MB are discussed as well in the review.

Modification of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A toxicokinetics in rats administered a yeast cell wall preparation

The cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can bind mycotoxins in vitro, but there is scarce information on whether this property decreases the absorption of mycotoxins in vivo. The effect of a yeast cell wall preparation (YCW) on toxicokinetics and balance excretion (urine and faeces) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was tested in rats after oral administration of each toxin. The 3H-labelled mycotoxins were used at low doses. Co-administration of YCW with AFB1 decreased the extent, but not the rate, of absorption. Concurrently, radioactivity excreted in faeces increased by up to 55% when compared with controls, whilst the excretion in urine decreased (p < 0.05). The effect of YCW on OTA was less marked, although it increased radioactivity excretion in faeces (up to 16%; p < 0.05) it did not result in changes in urine and toxicokinetic parameters. The in vivo effect is in agreement with the reported in vitro binding ability for these toxins (AFB1 > OTA). In conclusion, these results indicate that YCW could be used to protect monogastric animals against exposure to low dietary levels of selected mycotoxins.

Dietary supplements for the reduction of mycotoxin intestinal absorption in pigs

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolic products of several moulds that can be found as contaminants of feedstuffs (mainly cereals) and exert toxic effects in animals and human beings. Contamination can already occur in-field but is usually a consequence of poor storage conditions. Pigs are particularly sensitive to the toxic effect of trichothecenes and zearalenone that are produced by Fusarium strains but animal health and production can be compromised also by the ingestion of other mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and fumonisins. While ingestion of all mycotoxins usually result in reduced animal growth, other possible symtomps include reduced feed intake, vomiting and diarrhoea (trichothecenes), reduced reproductive capability (aflatoxins and zearalenone), suppressed immune function (aflatoxins), nephropathy (ohcratoxins), and pulmonary edema (fumonisins). Moreover, to some extent, some mycotoxins can be found in animal organs such as liver (aflatoxins) and kidneys (ochratoxins) and represent a potential threat to consumers health. Several methods have been developed in order to reduce the intestinal absorption of mycotoxins in farm animals. Modern detoxification methods are based on the utilization of dietary supplements such as absorptive materials that can bind the toxins and microbes and enzymes that can inactivate them. Some lactic acid bacteria are able to bind and biotransform mycotoxins while absorptive agents such as aluminosilicates, clays, and mannan oligosaccharides have shown the ability to bind aflatoxins. Similarly, biotransformation of mycotoxins can be achieved through the use of specific enzymes.

Assessment of the Multi-mycotoxin-Binding Efficacy of a Carbon/Aluminosilicate-Based Product in an in Vitro Gastrointestinal Model

A laboratory model, set to simulate the in vivo conditions of the porcine gastrointestinal tract, was used to study the small intestinal absorption of several mycotoxins and the effectiveness of Standard Q/FIS (a carbon/aluminosilicate-based product) in reducing mycotoxin absorption when added to multitoxin-contaminated diets. Mycotoxins were quickly absorbed in the proximal part of the small intestine at levels of 105 and 89% for fumonisins B1 and B2, respectively, 87% for ochratoxin A, 74% for deoxynivalenol, 44% for aflatoxin B1, and 25% for zearalenone. Addition of Standard Q/FIS to the diet (up to 2%, w/w) significantly reduced mycotoxin absorption, in a dose-dependent manner, up to 88% for aflatoxin B1, 44% for zearalenone, and 29% for the fumonisins and ochratoxin. Standard Q/FIS was ineffective in reducing deoxynivalenol uptake. These findings suggest that Standard Q/FIS can be used as a multitoxin adsorbent material to prevent the individual and combined adverse effects of mycotoxins in animals.