Mycotoxins have become one of the most recognised feed chain contaminants, with hundreds of mycotoxins identified to date. Management of mycotoxins includes prevention, regulation, monitoring, decontamination, and animal treatments. Even with good management, unavoidably low levels of several mycotoxins can cause loss of feedstuffs, increased animal disease, reduced animal performance, and food residues. A promising approach to protect animals against the harmful effects of contaminated feed is based on the use of feed additives. These additives are defined as substances that, when included into contaminated feed, can adsorb or denature mycotoxins in the digestive tract of animals. Since 2009, they are officially allowed in the UE as technological feed additives. Mycotoxin adsorbents are the most studied additives and a variety of products are on the market claiming multi-toxin adsorption capacity. The efficacy of adsorbents in sequestering different mycotoxins has been poorly addressed. The aim of this study was the screening of commercial products for preparing a nutritional composition intended to reduce bioavailability of a large range of mycotoxins. 52 commercial products from 26 industrial partners, including minerals, yeast-based products and blend of components, were tested. Preliminary adsorption tests allowed the selection of 4 commercial products as effective in sequestering simultaneously aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1. All products failed in adsorbing deoxynivalenol, but activated carbon. Adsorption experiments were performed with selected binders, at physiologically relevant pH values commonly found in the stomach and intestine, to determine adsorption parameters (capacity, affinity, chemisorption index). Mineralogical analysis (XRD) and ash content showed that 3 out of the 4 commercial products selected as best multi-toxin adsorbents (designated by the supplying companies as minerals) were organoclays. Organoclays are not suitable for feed ingredients due to toxicity of the interlayer quaternary alkylammonium ions. Two organoclays and one yeast cell wall product, out of 52 commercial products, were found toxic in 2 bioassays. In conclusion, multi-toxin adsorbents covering major mycotoxins are not commercially available. Most of them lack effectiveness towards trichotechenes. The identity/composition of commercial products could be counterfeit and misleading. Some commercial products can be even highly toxic in toxicity bioassays.
In Vitro Studies to Assess the Efficacy and Potential Toxicity of Multi-Mycotoxins Adsorbing Agents Used as Feed Additives
Avantaggiato Giuseppina;Greco Donato;Minervini Fiorenza;Garbetta Antonella;Grieco Francesco;Visconti Angelo
2015
Abstract
Mycotoxins have become one of the most recognised feed chain contaminants, with hundreds of mycotoxins identified to date. Management of mycotoxins includes prevention, regulation, monitoring, decontamination, and animal treatments. Even with good management, unavoidably low levels of several mycotoxins can cause loss of feedstuffs, increased animal disease, reduced animal performance, and food residues. A promising approach to protect animals against the harmful effects of contaminated feed is based on the use of feed additives. These additives are defined as substances that, when included into contaminated feed, can adsorb or denature mycotoxins in the digestive tract of animals. Since 2009, they are officially allowed in the UE as technological feed additives. Mycotoxin adsorbents are the most studied additives and a variety of products are on the market claiming multi-toxin adsorption capacity. The efficacy of adsorbents in sequestering different mycotoxins has been poorly addressed. The aim of this study was the screening of commercial products for preparing a nutritional composition intended to reduce bioavailability of a large range of mycotoxins. 52 commercial products from 26 industrial partners, including minerals, yeast-based products and blend of components, were tested. Preliminary adsorption tests allowed the selection of 4 commercial products as effective in sequestering simultaneously aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1. All products failed in adsorbing deoxynivalenol, but activated carbon. Adsorption experiments were performed with selected binders, at physiologically relevant pH values commonly found in the stomach and intestine, to determine adsorption parameters (capacity, affinity, chemisorption index). Mineralogical analysis (XRD) and ash content showed that 3 out of the 4 commercial products selected as best multi-toxin adsorbents (designated by the supplying companies as minerals) were organoclays. Organoclays are not suitable for feed ingredients due to toxicity of the interlayer quaternary alkylammonium ions. Two organoclays and one yeast cell wall product, out of 52 commercial products, were found toxic in 2 bioassays. In conclusion, multi-toxin adsorbents covering major mycotoxins are not commercially available. Most of them lack effectiveness towards trichotechenes. The identity/composition of commercial products could be counterfeit and misleading. Some commercial products can be even highly toxic in toxicity bioassays.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
