Mycotoxins In Feed Research Articles

Determination of some mycotoxins from poultry feed in Baghdad city

The aims of this study were to determine some mycotoxins and to isolate the fungi from chicken feed samples from broiler and layer farms in Baghdad city. The isolation rate (percentage) of fungi from poultry feed samples was Aspergillus niger 17.7%, Aspergillus flavus 14.7%, Aspergillus fumigatus 12.4%, Aspergillus ochraceus 10.7%, Penicillium spp. 9.3%, Fusarium spp. 9.3%, Rhizopus spp. 8.4%, Mucar spp. 8.4%, Absidia spp. 7.6% and Chrysonilia sitophila 1.5%, while the most common yeast genera were Candida spp. 44.8%, Candida albicans 20.7%, Cryptococcus neoformans 17.3%, Geotricum candidum 12% and Trichosorom spp. 5.2%. The mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1) and zearalenone (ZON) were detected, and the percentages of these mycotoxins were 43.1%, 27.2%, 21.1% and 8.6%, respectively. This study indicates that the presence of mold that produce mycotoxins in poultry feed increases the risk of mycotoxins in feed, meat, eggs, etc. of animals and therefore humans, and we need to raise awareness of the Ministry of Agriculture and Health to prevent these measures to reduce the mycotoxin levels in poultry products.

Efficacy of Mycotoxin Binder on Broiler Performance, Organ Weight, Wishbone Weight, and Gut Length: A Meta-Analysis

Mycotoxin-contaminated feed is one of the main causes of contamination that may increase broiler mortality and impair their production. A total of 161 in vivo data acquired from 31 published articles were used as a database for determining the effectiveness of mycotoxin binders on performance and health of broiler. The Hedges’ d value was employed as a measure of effect size (ES) in the present meta-analysis. Increasing mycotoxin binder in feed enhanced body weight (ES=0.784; P<0.001), decreased feed conversion ratio (ES=-0.87; P<0.001), and decreased mortality (ES=-3.98; P<0.001). In terms of average daily gain and mortality suppression, the finisher phase demonstrated the greatest effectiveness of the binder usage compared to the starter and finisher phases. The effectiveness of binders in lowering the incidence of mycotoxin in feed was beneficial in reducing mortality and enhancing broiler performance. In addition, its application into feed may enhance the health condition of broilers by enhancing organ weights and gastrointestinal health.

Productivity of young pigs in rearing when the use of feed additives ActivSorbent and PolyActiv as feed adsorbents of mycotoxins

Intensification of pig farming is directly related to the need to provide pig-producing farms with their own feed. Modern conditions of industrial pig farming impose increased requirements on the organization of complete feeding of pigs based on the use of high-quality feed, feed and biologically active additives. The purpose of the research was to study the productivity of young pigs during rearing when use feed additives ActiveSorben and PolyActive adsorbents of mycotoxins in feed. Research to identify the optimal dosage of mycotoxin adsorbents of feed ActiveSorbent and PolyActive and their effect on the metabolism and productive indicators of young pigs was carried out on fi rst-generation hybrid piglets (Large White × Landrace) during rearing, in the production conditions of the pig-breeding complex of Tavla LLC in the Kochkurovsky district of the Republic of Mordovia with a capacity of 12,000 heads per year. It has been found according to the results of industrial testing of the feed mycotoxin adsorbents ActiveSorbent and PolyActive that their use in doses of 1.750 kg/t of compound feed reduced the costs of producing 1 kg of live weight gain by 10.31 and 8.51 rubles, respectively. The level of profi tability in the experimental groups increased compared to the control group when using the additive ActiveSorbent by 18.93 abs.% and PolyActive by 15.24 abs.%. Thus, the inclusion of feed additives ActiveSorbent and PolyActive of feed mycotoxin adsorbents in the diet of rearing piglets under industrial pig farming conditions when recalculated for the resulting products contributes to increased productivity, reduced cost of production and an increase in the level of production profitability.

Effect of Bioactive Ingredients on Urinary Excretion of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in Rats, as Measured by Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are highly toxic mycotoxins present in food and feed, posing serious health risks to humans and animals. This study aimed to validate an efficient and cost-effective analytical method for quantifying AFB1 and OTA in rat urine using immunoaffinity column extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (IAC-LC-FD). Additionally, the study evaluated the effect of incorporating fermented whey and pumpkin into the feed on the urinary excretion of these mycotoxins. The limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 0.1 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg, respectively, for both mycotoxins in feed, and 0.2 ng/mL and 0.6 ng/mL, respectively, in urine. The method demonstrated robust recovery rates ranging from 74% to 119% for both AFB1 and OTA in both matrices. In feed samples, the levels of AFB1 and OTA ranged from 4.3 to 5.2 µg/g and from 5.4 to 8.8 µg/g, respectively. This validated method was successfully applied to analyze 116 urine samples from rats collected during the fourth week of an in vivo trial. The results indicated that the addition of fermented whey and pumpkin to the feed influenced mycotoxin excretion in urine, with variations observed based on the sex of the rats, type of mycotoxin, and exposure dosage.

Association of Good Dairy Farming Practices, Welfare and Performance: A Review

This review underscores the critical role of good dairy farming practices in enhancing both animal welfare and dairy performance. International organizations like the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and country-specific protocols emphasize the need for tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure effective and contextually appropriate practices. Advanced housing systems for calves, such as pair and group housing, have shown significant benefits in improving social interaction, cognitive development, and overall health. Effective pain management, particularly during procedures like disbudding, and optimized feeding strategies, including appropriate feed delivery timing and frequency, are crucial for enhancing health and productivity. Proper flooring, such as rubber mats, significantly improves cow comfort by providing a softer surface that reduces the risk of lameness and injuries associated with concrete floors. Effective pen management helps to mitigate dominance issues and minimize stress, leading to better welfare and productivity. Gentle handling practices, involving positive interactions like patting and stroking, significantly enhance animal welfare and milk production compared to aversive methods. Addressing issues such as mold and mycotoxins in feed is also essential for maintaining animal health and avoiding adverse effects on growth and milk production. Overall, adopting comprehensive dairy farming practices that prioritize animal welfare not only improves health and reduces stress but also leads to increased dairy productivity and sustainability, highlighting the interdependence of welfare and performance in the dairy industry.

292 Effects of feeding mycotoxins-contaminated feed with a mitigation strategy on growth performance and health status in weaned pigs

Abstract Various types and levels of mycotoxins are present in feed ingredients, thus negatively impacting swine health and productivity. Appropriate sampling and frequent testing of feed ingredients are recommended to assess the risk of mycotoxins in feed and to determine mitigation strategies for mycotoxin control. However, monitoring plans do not guarantee feed will be free of mycotoxins, so in-feed mitigation strategies are implemented to minimize production losses. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a mycotoxin mitigation product (MultiSHIELD, modified clinoptilolite-based product) on growth performance and health status of weaned pigs under dietary challenges with various types and levels of mycotoxins commonly found in feed. The presence of mycotoxins was confirmed in the ground corn, which was obtained from the Midwestern United States and then used in a standard corn and soybean meal-based diet for three dietary treatments. Treatments were as follows: 1) control diet containing mycotoxins without mitigation (fumonisins B1 at 390, 454, and 527 ppb; zearalenone at 727, 846, and 982 ppb; deoxynivalenol at 671, 781, and 907 ppb in N1, N2, and N3 diets, respectively), 2) control diet with 0.15% of MultiSHIELD as mitigation level 1, and 3) control diet with 0.3% of MultiSHIELD as mitigation level 2. A total of 912 weaned pigs were allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments (19 pigs per pen and 16 replicates per treatment) in a randomized complete block design with the initial body weight (as blocking. The results revealed that mycotoxin mitigation, regardless of the mitigation levels, had decreased removal rate (P < 0.01), incidence of injectable medication treatments (P = 0.01), ear necrosis (P = 0.27), and scours (P = 0.18) compared with control. Overall, pigs fed mycotoxin mitigation treatment diets had heavier pen weight (P = 0.06) than those fed the control diet due to fewer removals. The results also demonstrated a significant improvement of economic parameters (i.e., income over feed cost per pen; P = 0.01) for pigs fed diets with MultiSHIELD, regardless of the inclusion level, than pigs fed control diet. In conclusion, poor swine productivity was observed due to the presence of mycotoxins in feed, and the inclusion of MultiSHIELD in feed under the mycotoxin challenge delivers a positive impact on health and economic performance of nursery pigs.

Deoxynivalenol and fumonisin predispose broilers to bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis lameness

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is the most critical animal health and welfare issue facing the broiler industry worldwide. It is estimated that 1 to 2% of bird condemnation at marketing age is caused by BCO lameness, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in annual losses. Fast-growing broilers are prone to mechanical stress that triggers bacterial translocation across epithelial barriers into the bloodstream, followed by bacterial colonization in the growth plate of long bones, and eventually, bone necrosis and lameness. Mycotoxins (MTX) are secondary metabolites produced naturally by microfungi, of which deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUM), and zearalenone are the most prevalent in corn and soybean-meal-based diets. The presence of these mycotoxins in feed has been proven to reduce the barrier strength of the intestinal tracts and trigger immunosuppressive effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of the DON and FUM-contaminated feeds on the incidence of BCO lameness in broilers reared in both wire- and litter-floors. 720 one-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to the 2 × 2 factorial design: 2 MTX diets containing DON and FUM on wire flooring (MTX-W) and litter flooring (MTX-L), and 2 diets without MTX contamination on control wire flooring (CW) and control litter flooring (CL). Throughout the trial, the cumulative incidence of lameness per treatment was assessed by necropsying the lame birds. Birds in the MTX-W group had a higher incidence of lameness compared to those in CW (73.3% vs. 62.0%) (P < 0.05), and birds in the MTX-L group had a higher incidence of lameness compared to birds in CL (54.0% vs. 34.0%) (P < 0.05). MTX elicited net increases in BCO to a greater degree on litter (+20%) than on wire flooring (+12%). The increased incidence of BCO lameness in the MTX-W coincided with increased intestinal permeability supporting a correlation between intestinal barrier integrity and BCO lameness. To conclude, DON and FUM are predisposing factors for increasing BCO. However, no significant interaction exists between the diet and floor types in inducing lameness in broilers.

Feeding spray-dried plasma to broilers early in life improved their intestinal development, immunity and performance irrespective of mycotoxins in feed.

Fungi that produce mycotoxins can grow on certain food products, such as grains and feed, and can cause a variety of health issues if consumed by animals, including chickens. The use of spray-dried plasma (SDP) is one strategy for combating the health problems caused by mycotoxins. In the present study, Ross 308 chickens (n = 960) were divided into four treatment groups. T1 group was given a control diet (corn-soybean meal), T2 group was given a control diet +2% SDP, T3 group was given a control diet +2% SDP + mixture mycotoxins and T4 group was givena control diet + mycotoxin mixture. The presence of SDP resulted in weight gain and decreased feed efficiency, whereas mycotoxins resulted in weight loss and increased feed efficiency. SDP increased the thymus' relative weight. The presence of mycotoxins increased the heterophile/lymphocyte ratio. The presence of mycotoxins reduced the production of IL-2 and macrophage inflammatory protein-3 Alpha (MIP-3a), whereas the presence of SDP increased the production of macrophage colony-stimulating Factor (M-CSF). SDP resulted in higher IgA concentrations in the intestinal and tracheal washes than mycotoxin. Finally, adding SDP to broiler diets boosts weight gain, feed efficiency, and immune system development. Our results provide information supporting that SDP is a promising tool for improving poultry immunity and performance.

Bio-detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated feedstuffs: Using lactic acid bacteria and yeast

Mycotoxins contaminations in feedstuffs are one of the principal concerns worldwide nowadays, related to the fact that they may evoke health problems in animals and consequently in humans. Biodetoxification of mycotoxins by application of beneficial microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria or yeasts) is one of the well-known, relatively low-cost, easy, efficient, safe, and green approaches for the reduction of mycotoxins presence in feeds. The use of beneficial microorganisms as feed additives to remove mycotoxins is widely practiced in the industrial production of animal feed. In this overview, we aim to summarize the great potential of beneficial microorganisms as bio-detoxificant, including a summary of various reported detoxification activities of lactic acid bacteria or yeasts against mycotoxins with relevance for feedstuff. The principal focus is the detoxification of mycotoxins in livestock, poultry, and aquatic feed using beneficial microorganisms. The mechanisms of the detoxification process and effective factors in this process are also covered. This review article could be useful for biotechnologists, investigators, and animal feed manufacturers who have challenges regarding the existence of mycotoxins in feed, and help them to find the best method for feed bio-decontamination.

Dietary aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone contamination affected growth performance, intestinal and hepatopancreas gene expression profiles and histology of the intestine and gill in goldfish, Carassius auratus

The effects of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and/or zearalenone (ZEA) contamination on goldfish, was investigated. Total of 540 fingerlings, 6.25 ± 0.12 g, were randomly allocated to experimental groups comprised of factorial designation of different dietary AFB1 (0, 50 and 100 ppb) and ZEA (0, 500 and 1000 ppb) concentrations for 60 days. Each treatment was conducted in triplicate. Results showed dietary AFB1 and/or ZEA depressed the growth performance of fish; the highest and lowest weight gain (WG), final body weight, thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and daily growth coefficient (DGC) were observed in control group and AFB50ZEA1000, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary AFB1 and/or ZEA significantly affected the gene expressions of Caspase 3, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, Glutathione S-transferases (GST) and Heat shock proteins 70 (HSP70) in a dose-dependent and tissue specific manner (hepatopancreas or intestine) (P < 0.05). In the hepatopancreas, the highest relative expression of Caspase 3 (2.08 ± 0.43), CYP1A1 (2.73 ± 1.18), GST (32.86 ± 4.03) and HSP70 (7.55 ± 2.35) genes were observed in AFB100ZEA1000, AFB50ZEA0, AFB0ZEA1000 and AFB0ZEA1000 groups, respectively (P < 0.05). However, the highest relative expression of Caspase 3 (39.70 ± 10.98), CYP1A1 (966.4 ± 68.6), GST (175.8 ± 37.1) and HSP70 (1.01 ± 0.22) genes in the intestinal tissue were observed in AFB100ZEA1000, AFB0ZEA1000, AFB100ZEA500 AFB0ZEA0 groups (P < 0.05). The highest scores of the intestine tissue inflammation (4.0 ± 0.75) and necrosis (4.0 ± 0.75) were observed in AFB100ZEA500 group (P < 0.05). The results indicated the significant contribution of the intestine in metabolism/excretion of the feed-born toxins. Furthermore, the results revealed that dietary AFB1 and/or ZEA contamination could negatively affect fish performance and detoxifying genes expression profiles at concentrations even lower than those indicated in the literature as the safe feed mycotoxin thresholds.

Effective protective agents against organ toxicity of deoxynivalenol and their detoxification mechanisms: A review

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins in feed, which causes organ toxicity in animals. Therefore, reducing DON-induced organ toxicity can now be accomplished effectively using protective agents. This review provides an overview of multiple studies on a wide range of protective agents and their molecular mechanisms against DON organ toxicity. Protective agents include plant extracts, yeast products, bacteria, peptides, enzymes, H2, oligosaccharides, amino acids, adsorbents, vitamins and selenium. Among these, biological detoxification of DON using microorganisms to reduce the toxicity of DON without affecting the growth performance of pigs may be the most promising detoxification strategy. This paper also evaluates future developments related to DON detoxification and discusses the detoxification role and application potential of protective agents. This paper provides new perspectives for future research and development of safe and effective feed additives.

Analysis of the quality and content of mycotoxins in feed harvested in the Vologda region

Due to the fact that the quality indicators of feed, affecting the quantitative, qualitative indicators of productivity and economic efficiency of dairy farming of agricultural enterprises as a whole underlie the development of a ration system for dairy cows, this determines the relevance of conducting analytical testing of harvested feed. The purpose of the work was to analyze the quality and content of mycotoxins in feed harvested in the Vologda region. The average nutritional value and chemical composition of the best feed harvested in 2022 have been presented. An analysis of the quality and content of mycotoxins in feed was carried out. Samples of the taken feed samples were received for analysis from agricultural enterprises in the Vologda region and were tested in the laboratories of the collective use center of the North-Western Research Institute of Dairy and Grassland Farming named after A. S. Emelyanov. Research has established that for certain parameters characterizing the value of feed, such as the content of neutral detergent and acid detergent fi ber, there are deviations from the recommended values by State National Standard. Data on the content of mycotoxins in feed samples showed a favorable result, which positively characterizes the safety of the harvested feed. Analysis of the quality and content of mycotoxins in feed harvested in the Vologda region in 2021–2022 taking into account ensuring the productivity of the dairy herd in the region indicated the need to improve the feed production systems used in the Vologda region, meeting the requirements of detailed feeding of highly productive dairy cows.

Inter-laboratory validation of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multi-mycotoxin determination in animal feed - method transfer from the reference laboratory to regional laboratories.

The results are presented of the inter-laboratory validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of eight mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2, ochratoxin A, toxin T-2, toxin HT-2 and zearalenone) in animal feeds. This study was an essential part of the method's transfer from the National Reference Laboratory to six regional laboratories in Poland working in the official survey of mycotoxins in feed. The laboratories received a batch of standard solutions, blank samples and quality control materials on which to perform analysis with one procedure and different liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry conditions. The validation results show good precision (reproducibility coefficient of variation 3.7-20.5%) and accuracy of the method (recovery 89-120% and trueness 94-103%) and sufficient skills of the laboratory personnel. The study is an example of the successful transfer of the method among laboratories.

In vitro assessment of commercial multi-mycotoxin binders to reduce the bioavailability of emerging mycotoxins in livestock

The changing climate and agricultural practices continue to drive the increased prevalence and levels of both regulated and emerging mycotoxins in feed and food crops. This poses a considerable challenge for the agricultural sector in developing and developed countries as there is growing evidence that the emerging contaminants are capable of inducing a wide range of adverse health effects in livestock. This study evaluated and compared the capacity of commercially available mycotoxin binders to reduce the bioavailability of eight important emerging mycotoxins commonly found in livestock feeds. A novel in vitro model simulating the gastrointestinal track (GIT) of a monogastric animal was developed. Then, the efficiency of ten commercial binders with multi-mycotoxin binding claims were evaluated using the developed in vitro GIT model. Whist all the ten products demonstrated the capacity to simultaneously decrease the levels of more than one emerging mycotoxins, only one product (a mixed silicate) was able to considerably reduce the concentrations of all eight emerging mycotoxins simultaneously under the simulated in vitro conditions. This study highlights, for the first time, a significant gap in emerging mycotoxin mitigation through the deployment of binding agents and identifies the need for the development of novel mitigation strategies for this important group of mycotoxins.

Prevalence of subclinical abortions in cows due to mycotoxicosis

The article presents data on the distribution and seasonal dynamics of subclinical abortions in cows with mycotoxin poisoning, particularly zearalenone. Subclinical abortion is a common phenomenon among cows in dairy farms and causes significant economic losses due to multiple unsuccessful inseminations, reduced animal productivity, and premature culling. The research aimed to study the seasonal fluctuations of hidden abortions in cows and the influence of the method of keeping in the conditions of feed contamination with microscopic fungi and their toxins. To diagnose hidden abortions, cows were diagnosed with the pregnancy on the 32nd day after insemination. When pregnancy was confirmed, the animals were examined for 92 days. At the same time, if the pregnancy was not confirmed, it was considered that an abortion had occurred. Seasonal fluctuations of subclinical abortions were established - the most significant number (up to 13.6 %) was diagnosed at the end of spring, associated with many animals entering the hunt after the transit period. It is also important that at that time, the number of mycotoxins in feed reached record values, which led to abortions due to toxic effects on the organs of the reproductive system in particular and the body in general. A large number of abortions (11.2 %) in the summer season was also confirmed. At the same time, animals kept free all year received a similar diet containing mycotoxins. At the same time, a concomitant negative factor was temperature shock at this time of year. This whole complex of reasons led to subclinical abortions followed by the resorption of the fetus. Sonographically, areas of reduced echogenicity of the uterus in cows after abortions were detected, which is evidence of the development of subclinical endometritis, confirmed by the uterus's heterogeneous echogenicity. In infertile animals, the presence of follicles with cavities and small yellow bodies that did not extend beyond the surface of the ovary was established sonographically. This indicates a hypofunctional state and impaired folliculogenesis and luteogenesis.

Analysis of the intestinal microbiome in young laying hens of the "Hi-Line" cross against the background of the use of the mineral shungite

Growing young chickens under conditions of intensive keeping technology can lead to a decrease in nonspecific resistance, the manifestation of immunodeficiencies and increased susceptibility of the bird to adverse environmental factors and various opportunistic microorganisms. The presence of mycotoxins in feed is one of the main feed stresses. At the same time, stresses associated with vaccinations are added in the future and, of course, heat stresses play a special role in the summer months. The purpose of the work is to study the influence of the domestic natural adaptogen from the mineral shungite on productivity indicators and on the composition of the intestinal microbiome in young chickens of egg breed. The object of research was young laying hens of the High Line cross. To conduct the experiment at a day old, 3 groups of young animals were formed (1 control and 2 experimental - with different concentrations of the mineral shungite). The raw material for the production of a mineral additive from shungite was shungite from the Zazhogino deposit (Republic of Karelia, Medvezhyegorsk region). Fraction 0.2-0.8 mm, humidity up to 10%. Carbon content (C) 25-35%. The composition of the compound feed formula was developed in order to increase the immune status of chickens, accelerate the development of the internal organs of chickens in the early period and, as a result, increase the safety, uniformity and business yield of pullets. The intestinal microbiome of young laying hens was determined using high throughput sequencing. It should be noted that among the bacteria inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, the function of digestion is performed by several phyla, the main part of which are bacteria of the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Thus, based on the results of high-throughput sequencing, the corrective effect of the adaptogen from shungite at different concentrations on the composition of the bird's intestinal microflora was established. The positive effect of shungite at a concentration of 1.0 kg/t of feed on the increase in the number of normoflora of blind processes was confirmed. A significant effect of the additive from the mineral shungite on the number of cellulolytic bacteria was revealed.

JNK molecule is a toxic target for IPEC-J2 cell barrier damage induced by T-2 toxin

The most prevalent contaminated mycotoxin in feed and grain is T-2 toxin. The T-2 toxin's primary action target is the gut because it is the main organ of absorption. T-2 toxin can cause intestinal damage, but, few molecular mechanisms have been elucidated. It is important to discover the key pathways by which T-2 toxin causes enterotoxicity. In this research, IPEC-J2 cells are used as a cell model to investigate the function of the MAPK signaling pathway in T-2 toxin-induced intestinal epithelial cell damage. Throughout this research, T-2 toxin results in functional impairment in IPEC-J2 cells by reducing the TJ proteins Claudin, Occludin-1, ZO-1, N-cadherin, and CX-43 expression. T-2 toxin significantly reduced the survival of IPEC-J2 cells and increased LDH release in a dose-dependent way. T-2 toxin induced IPEC-J2 cell oxidative stress by raising ROS and MDA content, and mitochondrial damage was indicated by a decline in MMP and an increase in the opening degree of MPTP. T-2 toxin upregulated the expression of ERK, P38 and JNK, which triggered the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, T-2 toxin caused IPEC-J2 cell inflammation responses reflected by increased the levels of inflammation-related factors IL-8, p65, P-p65 and IL-6, and down-regulated IL-10 expression level. Inhibition JNK molecule can ease IPEC-J2 cell functional impairment and inflammatory response. In conclusion, as a consequence of the T-2 toxin activating the JNK molecule, oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage are induced, which impair cellular inflammation.

The Co-Occurrence of T-2 Toxin, Deoxynivalenol, and Fumonisin B1 Activated the Glutathione Redox System in the EU-Limiting Doses in Laying Hens.

Different mycotoxins in feed lead to combined exposure, increasing adverse effects on animal health. Trichothecene mycotoxins have been associated with inducing oxidative stress, which is neutralized by the glutathione system within the antioxidant defense, depending on the dose and duration of exposure. T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are commonly found in feed commodities simultaneously. In the present study, the intracellular biochemical and gene expression changes were investigated in the case of multi-mycotoxin exposure, focusing on certain elements of the glutathione redox system. In a short-term feeding trial, an in vivo study was performed with low (EU-proposed) doses: T-2/HT-2 toxin: 0.25 mg; DON/2-AcDON/15-AcDON.: 5 mg; FB1: 20 mg/kg feed, and high doses (twice the low dose) in laying hens. The multi-mycotoxin exposure affected the glutathione system; GSH concentration and GPx activity was higher in the liver in the low-dose group on day 1 compared to the control. Furthermore, the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes increased significantly on day 1 in both exposure levels compared to the control. The results suggest that when EU-limiting doses are applied, individual mycotoxins may have a synergistic effect in the induction of oxidative stress.

Co-Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Feed for Cattle, Pigs, Poultry, and Sheep in Navarra, a Region of Northern Spain.

Mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by fungi on raw materials, such as cereals, represent a serious health hazard. Animals are exposed to them mainly through the ingestion of contaminated feed. This study presents data about the presence and co-occurrence of nine mycotoxins: aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, ochratoxins A and B, zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and sterigmatocystin (STER), in 400 samples of compound feed for cattle, pigs, poultry, and sheep (100 samples each) collected in Spain (2019-2020). Aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and ZEA were quantified using a previously validated HPLC method using fluorescence detection; whereas DON and STER were quantified using ELISA. Moreover, the obtained results were compared with those obtained in this country and published in the last 5 years. The mycotoxin presence in Spanish feed, especially for ZEA and DON, has been demonstrated. The maximum individual levels found were: AFB1: 6.9 µg/kg in a sample of feed for poultry; OTA: 65.5 µg/kg in a sample of feed for pigs, DON: 887 µg/kg in a sample of feed for sheep, and ZEA: 816 µg/kg in a sample of feed for pigs. Nevertheless, regulated mycotoxins appear, in general, at levels below those regulated by the EU; in fact, the percentage of samples containing concentrations above these limits was very low (from 0% for DON to 2.5% for ZEA). The co-occurrence of mycotoxins has also been demonstrated: 63.5% of the analyzed samples presented detectable levels of two to five mycotoxins. Due to the fact that the distribution of mycotoxins in raw materials can change greatly from year to year with climate conditions or market globalization, regular mycotoxin monitorization in feed is needed to prevent the integration of contaminated materials in the food chain.

Urinary and Serum Concentration of Deoxynivalenol (DON) and DON Metabolites as an Indicator of DON Contamination in Swine Diets.

Pig health is impaired and growth performance is reduced when exposed to deoxynivalenol (DON). The measurement of DON in individual feedstuffs and complete swine diets is variable because of the inconsistent distribution of mycotoxins in feed and the difficulties in obtaining representative samples. We investigated whether measuring DON and its metabolites in biological samples could be used as a predictor of DON ingestion by pigs. Blood samples were collected between 3 and 4 h after the morning meal and urine samples were quantitatively collected over a 24 h period on d 40 and 82 of the study to evaluate serum and urinary content of DON and DON metabolites (iso-deoxynivalenol, DON-3-glucuronide, DON-15-glcurunide, deepoxy-deoxynivalenol, iso-deepoxy-deoxynivalenol, deepoxy-deoxynivalenol-3-glucuronide, and deepoxy-deoxynivalenol-15-glucuronide). The intake of DON was positively correlated with urinary DON output. Similarly, there was an increase in serum DON level with increasing DON intake. Overall, it was found that DON intake correlated with DON concentration in urine and blood serum when samples were collected under controlled conditions. Analyzing DON levels in urine and blood serum could be used to predict a pig's DON intake.