Levels of naturally co-occurring mycotoxins act synergistically on animal health, with increased levels compromising performance. Prevention is the best solution. However, multiple strategies are required to be effective against a wide range of mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by moulds that can cause harmful effects in animal production. There are more than 400 mycotoxins discovered today. These mycotoxins can be divided into pre-harvest or post-harvest mycotoxins. Pre-harvest mycotoxins are produced by moulds growing on crops in the field, while post-harvest mycotoxins are produced during storage, transport or processing of feed. Among all mycotoxins, there is a huge diversity in terms of molecular structure, size or polarity and effects on animal health. In addition, mycotoxins are stable during chemical or thermal treatments and thus multiply rapidly in feedstuffs. The most abundant toxins are aflatoxins, zearalenone and ochratoxins.

Feed analysis

There are maximum levels for aflatoxin B1 and other mycotoxins in the communiqué of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock on undesirable substances in feed. These levels are determined by feed analyses in laboratories.

Status of the impact on animal health

After ingestion, bypassing the stomach and surviving in the animal's metabolism, the toxins exert their first effects in the intestinal lumen and on the intestinal barrier. Mycotoxins make the intestine permeable by reducing the bonding of proteins.

Increased liver colour due to mycotoxins on a scale of 0-4.  Aflatoxins can also cause a pale, yellow colour.Increase in liver colour due to mycotoxins on a scale of 0-4. Aflatoxins can also cause a pale, yellow colour.

This intestinal permeability allows more toxins or pathogens to enter the animal's system. Strain on the immune system and a series of events can lead to severe intestinal inflammation. It is also known that mycotoxins suppress the immune system, for example by reducing certain types of immune cells that are important in the first line of defence. Immunomodulation in this situation is an ideal opportunity for pathogens to cause secondary diseases such as bacterial enteritis or mastitis in dairy cows.

After modulating the immune system, toxins are transported through the blood to vital organs such as the lungs, liver and kidney. The liver is the organ that naturally focuses on detoxification as well as other important functions for the storage and synthesis of proteins and biochemicals. Mycotoxins can damage highly specialised hepatocytes by inducing oxidative stress and direct toxic action. Free radicals cause membrane instability and disruption of hepatocyte content. Induced liver damage can be observed by a change in liver colour or by measuring liver metabolites such as serum proteins (Albumin and globulin) and liver enzymes (Aspartate aminotransferase) in blood samples from contaminated animals. Similar effects have been observed in the kidney. The kidney is the main organ of the fluid filtration system in animals and is responsible for regulating body fluid content, osmotic balance and excretion of waste products. Kidney cells are also affected by oxidative stress and toxic activity. As a result, waste metabolites leak back into the bloodstream and blood filtration is compromised. Uric acid is an example of a metabolite that can be measured in blood samples. In general, oxidative stress in liver or kidney cells is measured by the level of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the blood. These endogenous enzymes reduce and convert free radicals in targeted organ cells. As a result, waste metabolites leak back into the bloodstream and blood filtration is compromised. Uric acid is an example of this type of metabolite that can be measured in blood samples. In general, oxidative stress in epithelial cells, liver or kidney cells is determined by the blood level of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. These endogenous enzymes reduce and convert free radicals in the targeted organ cells. As a result, waste metabolites leak back into the bloodstream and blood filtration is compromised.  In general, oxidative stress in epithelial cells, liver or kidney cells is determined by the blood level of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. These endogenous enzymes reduce and convert free radicals in the targeted organ cells.

Leaky gut showing blunt-ended villi, villus fusion, debris in the lumen and more space between intestinal cells.  Photo: "Impextraco "Permeable intestine showing blunt-ended villi, villus fusion, accumulation in the lumen and more space between intestinal cells.

Loss of animal productivity

All the parameters mentioned above are called biomarkers because they are biochemicals that tell us something about the health status of the animal. In the context of mycotoxins, these parameters allow us to investigate subclinical signs of mycotoxicosis in depth and comprehensively. Besides disrupting the intestinal barrier and modulating the immune system, all mycotoxins have their own specific effects. For example, zearalenone targets the reproductive system, while aflatoxin is more hepatotoxic. Since these mycotoxins naturally co-exist in contaminated feed, their effects occur synergistically. In dairy cows, mycotoxins result in lower milk production and milk quality. In broilers, mycotoxins cause poor performance.

Eliminate the impact on animal health

The most effective strategy is to add an anti-mycotoxin additive to the bait. Thanks to its special composition, Toxider contains numerous means to prevent the effects of any mycotoxicosis. Toxider binds and detoxifies mycotoxins in the lumen to prevent them from damaging the intestinal barrier and altering the immune response.