Mycotoxins—Prevention, Detection, Impact on Animal Health

Abstract

Mycotoxins are defined as secondary metabolites of some species of mold fungi. They are present in many foods consumed by animals. Moreover, they most often contaminate products of plant and animal origin. Fungi of genera Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillum are most often responsible for the production of mycotoxins. They release toxic compounds that, when properly accumulated, can affect many aspects of breeding, such as reproduction and immunity, as well as the overall liver detoxification performance of animals. Mycotoxins, which are chemical compounds, are extremely difficult to remove due to their natural resistance to mechanical, thermal, and chemical factors. Modern methods of analysis allow the detection of the presence of mycotoxins and determine the level of contamination with them, both in raw materials and in foods. Various food processes that can affect mycotoxins include cleaning, grinding, brewing, cooking, baking, frying, flaking, and extrusion. Most feeding processes have a variable effect on mycotoxins, with those that use high temperatures having the greatest influence. Unfortunately, all these processes significantly reduce mycotoxin amounts, but they do not completely eliminate them. This article presents the risks associated with the presence of mycotoxins in foods and the methods of their detection and prevention.

Adverse Effects of Fusarium Toxins in Ruminants: A Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

“…These mycotoxins decrease the surface area available for nutrient absorption, modulate the expression of nutrient transporters, and above all, cause a loss of barrier function, increasing the permeability of the GIT barrier, as well as modify the mucus secretion and the immunoglobulin and cytokine production [164,166]. Consequently, diets contaminated with mycotoxins worsen the animal health status [167], mainly when the hygienic conditions are unsatisfactory, or the host immune defenses are ineffective or deficient in some component. Dietary contamination with mycotoxins can strengthen stressful conditions and make the recovery of the physiological status in the GIT more difficult.…”

Occurrence of Toxinogenic Fungi in Livestock Feeds in Eastern Algeria

“…The genus of Aspergillus is related to warm or tropical areas and is less frequently encountered in cold areas [24,25]. Furthermore, the dominance of the genus Aspergillus in the flora contaminating cereals and feeds have been reported in several studies [26][27][28][29]. The high frequency and abundance of Aspergillus and Penicillium in our study could be due to inadequate farming practices, poor quality feed, and poor storage conditions [30].…”

Comparative Assessment of Different Yeast Cell Wall-Based Mycotoxin Adsorbents Using a Model- and Bioassay-Based In Vitro Approach

“…Different mycotoxins naturally co-contaminate a variety of agricultural commodities of plant origin, including cereal grains and forages, under favorable environmental conditions; thus, they are often detected in ruminant feed or feedstuffs [ 1 , 2 ], which poses a significant threat to animal performance and health as well as food safety. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated feed by animals can lead to a variety of adverse effects, such as compromised productivity and fertility [ 2 , 3 ] and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], which contribute to important economic losses worldwide. It has been projected that weather conditions associated with climate change will exacerbate mycotoxin contamination [ 7 , 8 ].…”