Mycotoxins in feeds and their fate in animals: a review

Abstract

-Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites secreted by moulds, mostly belonging to the three genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. They are produced in cereal grains as well as forages before, during and after harvest, in various environmental conditions. Due to the diversity of their toxic effects and their synergetic properties, mycotoxins are considered as risky to the consumers of contaminated foods. Mycotoxin metabolism is complex and involves pathways of bioactivation and detoxification in both humans and animals. Detoxification occurs via biotransformation mediated by enzymes in the host cells and in the digestive microbial flora. Some of the toxins or their metabolites may become fixed in animal or human tissues. However, most are eliminated in the urine, faeces and milk. In animals, toxicity is generally revealed as chronic minor troubles and only rarely causes death. The presence of mycotoxins in feeds may decrease feed intake and affect animal performance. In addition, the possible presence of toxic residues in edible animal products (milk, meat, offal), may have some detrimental effects on human health. Maximum acceptable doses in feeds and milk have been set for certain mycotoxins by international authorities. The potential risks of mycotoxins may be controlled by checking plant material for fungal contamination, by improving methods of cultivation, harvest and storage, by eliminating or diluting toxins from the contaminated food or feeds, and by using adsorbents to reduce the bioavailability of toxins in the digestive tracts of animals. These measures will be assessed in the present paper. (0)4 73 63 46 59; e-mail: jouany@clermont.inra.fr présent dans le tube digestif. Certaines des toxines ou de leurs métabolites peuvent être fixés dans les tissus animaux ou humains. Cependant, la majorité est éliminée dans l'urine, dans les fèces et dans le lait. La toxicité se manifeste généralement sous forme de troubles chroniques difficiles à identifier, et rarement par la mort de l'animal. La présence de mycotoxines dans les aliments diminue la plupart du temps les quantités d'aliments ingérés ainsi que les performances zootechniques des animaux. La présence de résidus toxiques dans les produits animaux destinés à la consommation humaine (lait, viande, abats) constitue un risque potentiel qu'il est nécessaire d'évaluer pour mieux répondre à la demande sociétale de sécurité dans la chaîne alimentaire. Des doses acceptables devront être définies pour les toxines les plus dangereuses. En parallèle, des moyens de contrôle devront être mis en place pour vérifier l'innocuité des produits alimentaires mis sur le marché. Le risque potentiel des mycotoxines peut être diminué en évitant la contamination des plantes par les moisissures au moment de leur culture, de leur récolte et de leur conservation. Il est également possible de réduire la concentration en toxines des plantes contaminées par dilution avec des aliments sains et par des traitements appropriés, et (ou) de limiter la biodisponibilité des myc...

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Mycotoxins in cattle feeds and carry-over to dairy milk: A review

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Isolamento de fungos associados a grãos de café cv. Iapar 59 de origem de solo e árvore em diferentes tempos de colheita

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