Fusarium mycotoxins: a review of global implications for animal health, welfare and productivity

Abstract

Trichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins are the major Fusarium mycotoxins occurring on a worldwide basis in cereal grains, animal feeds and forages. Other important Fusarium mycotoxins include moniliformin and fusaric acid. Spontaneous outbreaks of Fusarium mycotoxicoses have been recorded in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and South America and, in addition, chronic exposure occurs on a regular and more widespread scale. The metabolism and adverse effects of the Fusarium mycotoxins are considered in this review with particular reference to recent data on specific and proposed syndromes and to interactions among co-occurring mycotoxins. Within the trichothecene group, deoxynivalenol (DON) is associated with emesis, feed refusal and depressed feed intake in pigs, while T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) are now clearly linked with oral lesions in poultry. The gut microflora of farm livestock are able to transform DON to a de-epoxy derivative. In contrast, the ovine metabolism of ZEN results in the production of five metabolites and relatively high levels of these forms may be excreted in the urine as glucuronides. There is now undisputed evidence that ZEN and its metabolites possess estrogenic activity in pigs, cattle and sheep, but T-2 toxin has also been implicated in reproductive disorders in farm livestock. Fumonisins are positively linked with pulmonary edema in pigs, leukoencephalomalacia in equines and with deranged sphingolipid metabolism in these animals. Fusarium mycotoxins have also been provisionally implicated in ovine ill-thrift, acute mortality of poultry and in duodenitis/proximal jejunitis of horses. Several Fusarium mycotoxins may co-occur in a particular feed ingredient or in compound feedingstuffs. In general, combinations of Fusarium 50 , median lethal dose; LH, luteinizing hormone; Sa, sphinganine; So, sphingosine; ELEM, equine leukoencephalomalacia; DPJ, duodenitis/proximal jejunitis; PPE, porcine pulmonary edema 0377-8401/99/$ ± see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 3 7 7 -8 4 0 1 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 5 9 -0 mycotoxins result in additive effects, but synergistic and/or potentiating interactions have been observed and are of greater concern in livestock health and productivity. Synergistic effects have been reported between DON and fusaric acid; DON and fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ); and DAS and the Aspergillus-derived aflatoxins. Limited evidence of potentiation between FB 1 and DON or T-2 toxin has also emerged recently. Additive and synergistic effects between known and unidentified mycotoxins may account for enhanced adverse effects observed on feeding Fusarium-contaminated diets. The potential for transmission of DON into eggs and of ZEN into porcine kidney and liver has been demonstrated. However, lactational carry-over of FB 1 appears not to occur, at least in cows and sows. It is concluded that livestock health, welfare and productivity may be severely compromised by consumption of DON, T-2 toxin, DAS, ZEN and fumonisins and by interactions am...

Meta-analytical study of productive and nutritional interactions of mycotoxins in growing pigs

“…Mycotoxins can interfere in pig feed intake and growth (D'Mello et al, 1999;Dersjant-Li et al, 2003). However, the animal susceptibility is influenced by several factors, such as sex and age (Cote et al, 1985;Dortant et al, 2001).…”

Development of a nanoarray capable of the rapid and simultaneous detection of zearalenone, T2-toxin and fumonisin

“…Improvements in automated image and data analysis software for novice end users are required to improve the overall rapidity of analysis. The complex toxic effects of mycotoxins pose significant health risks to humans and animals and this necessitates for effective control and surveillance procedures [5][6][7][8][9]. The initial stages in the protection against mycotoxin contamination is through the adoption of good agricultural, storage and processing practices to ensure mycotoxin levels remain negligible or as low as reasonably achievable [10].…”

“…Several validated methods are available for the measurement of mycotoxins and the literature on this subject has included many comprehensive and critical reviews [8,[15][16][17][18][19]. For the quantitative analysis of mycotoxins high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) as well as multiple toxin mass spectrometry (MS) methods are used In addition to safety issues, natural toxin contamination of food is of great economic concern; much effort is therefore devoted to the development of novel, rapid, inexpensive, simple and sensitive multiple mycotoxin screening methods.…”

“…Several validated methods are available for the measurement of mycotoxins and the literature on this subject has included many comprehensive and critical reviews [8,[15][16][17][18][19]. For the quantitative analysis of mycotoxins high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) as well as multiple toxin mass spectrometry (MS) methods are used [20][21][22][23][24].…”

Development of a recombinant Fab-fragment based electrochemical immunosensor for deoxynivalenol detection in food samples

“…Type-B trichothecenes lead to feed refusal, vomiting, anemia, hemorrhage, and immunosuppression (D'Mello et al, 1999) and their concentration in cereals and cereal-based food is severely regulated in the EU (Commission Regulation N. 1126/2007 of 28 September 2007. Off.…”