Multilayered mycotoxin control by agriNews

MULTILAYERED

MYCOTOXIN CONTROL

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that can contaminate a wide range of agricultural commodities worldwide1

These toxic compounds pose significant risks to both human and animal health.

Among the most common and well-known mycotoxins are:

Aflatoxins (AFB1 and AFB2)

Deoxynivalenol (DON, also known as vomitoxin)

Fumonisins (FB1, FB2, and FB3)

Ochratoxin A (OTA)

T-2 and HT-2 toxins

Zearalenone (ZEN)

These mycotoxins are referred to as regulated mycotoxins because their maximum allowable concentrations are established by various authorities.

However, the world of mycotoxins is vast, with more than 700 mycotoxins and fungal metabolites identified to date2

Most of them fall into the category of non-regulated or emerging mycotoxins.

After mycotoxins are produced, they cannot be easily removed from crops and when contaminated feedstuffs are fed to farm animals, a wide range of negative effects on animal production and health may occur.

A common risk mitigation strategy is to detoxify mycotoxins within the animal by using mycotoxindeactivating feed additives.

MYCOTOXIN DETOXIFICATIONSTATE OF RESEARCH

To mitigate the adverse effects of mycotoxins in animal feed, various strategies have been developed, focusing either on preventing their absorption or on transforming them into less harmful compounds.

Two widely studied approaches are adsorption and biotransformation, each with distinct mechanisms and applications.

Mycotoxin adsorption

Adsorption involves mycotoxins adhering to the surface of an adsorbent, often clay minerals, to reduce their harmful effects.

The effectiveness of adsorption is influenced by several factors, including:

The pH of the environment

The presence of other substances

The specific properties of the mycotoxins and adsorbents involved

Mycotoxin biotransformation

Biotransformation refers to the degradation of mycotoxins through the action of microbes or their enzymes.

This process converts toxic mycotoxins into less toxic or non-toxic forms via microbial activity.

Various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, have been identified for their ability to biotransform mycotoxins.

The biotransformation process can involve several biochemical reactions, such as hydroxylation, oxidation, and de-epoxidation, which modify the chemical structure of mycotoxins, rendering them harmless.

MYCOTOXIN ADSORPTION

MYCOTOXIN BIOTRANSFORMATION

Figure 1. Schematic representation of two mycotoxin detoxification strategies in animal nutrition. On the left, adsorption is illustrated as the binding of mycotoxins (purple circles) to the surface of an adsorbent (green surface), preventing their absorption in the digestive tract. On the right, biotransformation is shown as the microbial degradation of mycotoxins into non-toxic fragments (purple wedges), reducing their harmful effects through enzymatic activity.

MULTILAYERED MYCOTOXIN MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

MYCORAID is a premium product for mycotoxin risk management, used for the remediation of mycotoxins and other biotoxins in all animal species.

It has proven to be highly effective against a broad spectrum of biotoxins—including mycotoxins, endotoxins, and algal toxins—present in feed, and helps ensure that the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, and other organs function without interference from toxins.

Due to its unique composition and mode of action, it supports the optimal functioning of the immune, hepatic, reproductive, and digestive systems under commercial conditions.

Fast and efficient adsorption, effective biotransformation, strong immunoprotection, and continuous hepatoprotection are what make it a superior, multilayered mycotoxin control product.

The immune system is activated by scientifically proven components derived from yeast cell walls, containing over 35 % β-glucans and more than 15 % mannan oligosaccharides.

β-glucans act as immune-modulating substances, stimulating both non-specific and specific immune responses by activating T cells, B cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells.

They also enhance disease resistance by increasing immunoglobulin levels, thereby improving animal performance.

These effects contribute indirectly to the suppression of pathogens.

Yeast mannans support the development of a balanced intestinal microflora.

Adsorption is achieved using specially selected minerals processed through unique technological methods, resulting in stability, selectivity, and efficacy.

The mineral component adsorbs both polar and less polar mycotoxins—such as AFB1, FB1, T-2 toxin, OTA, ZEN, ergot alkaloids, emerging mycotoxins, endotoxins, and saxitoxin (an algal toxin)—in the gastrointestinal tract.

Importantly, this product does not adsorb vitamins or amino acids.

ADSORPTION

IMMUNE SYSTEM

HEPATOPROTECTION

BIOTRANSFORMATION

Biotransformation is achieved through microbial degradation of chemicals or mycotoxins.

Internationally deposited strains of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis are a key component, capable of biotransforming AFB1, OTA, and ZEN.

These Bacillus strains remain stable across a wide pH range and at temperatures below 120 °C.

Hepatoprotection is achieved through the action of carefully selected phytogenic extracts with the ability to prevent liver damage.

These extracts exert their protective effects via several mechanisms, including the restoration of antioxidative enzyme function, enhanced liver detoxification, and immunomodulation.

EFFICACY OF MYCORAID IN THE REAL WORLD

The efficacy of the product has been tested in numerous in vivo trials conducted worldwide3,4

It improves production parameters (growth, feed conversion), fertility, immune response, and reduces mortality.

Successful colonization of the intestine by Bacillus strains has been demonstrated—an essential requirement for the biotransformation of mycotoxins.

Its ingredients are thermostable under standard animal feed processing conditions.

While the restoration of performance is an indication of successful mycotoxin deactivation, only biomarker testing in animal tissues can provide a complete picture.

MYCORAID has been shown to successfully reduce mycotoxin concentrations in tissues such as liver and muscle in both poultry and swine, providing clear evidence of mycotoxin deactivation.

The recommended dosage depends on the level of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed.

To accurately estimate contamination levels, advanced analytical methods such as LC-MS/MS should be used.

This method is employed at the PATENT CO. laboratory in Serbia to test for 34 different mycotoxins in a single run5

Once feed contamination results are obtained, MycoRange, our smartphone app, can be used to assess mycotoxin risk across all animal species.

The app is available for both iOS and Android.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycotoxin contamination of feed leads to significant performance losses in farm animals.

MYCORAID is an advanced solution designed to combat a broad spectrum of biotoxins—including polar and less polar mycotoxins, endotoxins, and algal toxins—while supporting both liver and immune system function.

References

In this way, MYCORAID enables farm animals to maintain high production levels even under mycotoxin challenge.

1 Raj et al. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2021.2012600

2 Sulyok et al. 2024 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00294-7

3 Riahi et al. 2021 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113205

4 Tassis et al. 2024 https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1357723

5 Farkas et al. 2017 https://mycotoxinsite.com/advanced-multimycotoxin-analysis-agilent-6460c-lc-ms-ms/?lang=en