3D Approach to Mycotoxin Risk Management in Livestock and Poultry

by Swamy Haladi, PhD : Trouw Nutrition Global and Kai-J. Kühlmann, PhD : Trouw Nutrition Asia-Pacific 

Mycotoxicosis 

Mycotoxicosis is a condition observed in animals upon the ingestion of different concentrations of mycotoxins in the complete feed. Mycotoxins, a diverse group of toxic secondary metabolites of fungi, are a world-wide challenge in animal industry due to the increasing globe trading of raw materials as well as climate change and changing agricultural practices. Although animals can be exposed to more than 600 different mycotoxins, most research till date has focused on six groups of mycotoxins (mentioned in the decreasing order of sensitivity); ochratoxins (OTA), T-2 toxin, aflatoxins (AF), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins and zearalenone (ZEN). The emerging mycotoxins such as moniliformin, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) are also known to cause toxicity in poultry.  

Although mycotoxins affect most organs and systems in livestock and poultry, there are two systems that can be affected by many mycotoxins even at low concentrations. One is immune system and the other one being gastro-intestinal tract (GIT, gut). This paper talks about the negative effects of mycotoxins on gut and immune systems as well as “3D Approach” to manage multiple mycotoxins effectively. 

Impact of mycotoxins on gut health 

GIT is a system that is constantly in touch with feed-borne mycotoxins right from oral cavity all the way to large intestine. As a result, GIT is particularly affected by mycotoxin. Generally, intestinal barrier in the GIT functions as a filter against harmful mycotoxins. However, some mycotoxins have been found to exert their detrimental effects in the GIT. For example, mycotoxins can alter the normal intestinal functions such as barrier function and nutrient absorption. Some mycotoxins also affect the histomorphology of intestine. As the feed gets digested at different levels of GIT, mycotoxins get released into the intestinal lumen and subsequently absorbed into blood circulation. From blood circulation mycotoxins reach liver and various other organs resulting in toxicity. To prevent toxicity, a sound gut health is critical. Table 1 shows different ways in which mycotoxins can compromise gut health. 

Table 1. Adverse effects of key mycotoxins on gut health 

* Interleukin-8  

Impact of mycotoxins on immunity 

The most under rated negative effects of mycotoxins in animals are on their immune system. The immune system is broadly classified into innate (macrophages/dendritic cells), cell-mediated (DTH, cytotoxic T cells) and antibody-mediated (B cells, T helper cells, antibodies). Mycotoxins are known to affect all these arms of immune system and subsequently making animals more susceptible to various bacterial, viral and protozoan infections. Table 2 provides how mycotoxins affect immunity of animals. 

Table 2. Adverse effects of key mycotoxins on immune system 

* Interleukin-6, DHT - Delayed-type hypersensitivity 

Mycotoxin Management 

As it can be seen clearly in Table 1 and Table 2, all the key mycotoxins have significant negative effects on gut integrity and immunity in addition to affecting the performance. Although inorganic adsorbents such as bentonites can effectively bind aflatoxins, ergot toxins and bacterial (endo) toxins in intestine, they only have moderate binding to T-2 toxin, ZEA and OTA. DON and fumonisins are not easy to bind. Mere mycotoxin binding strategy, hence, may not help in protecting the birds and there is a need for ingredients capable of improving immune and gut health. On top of this, animal feed is usually contaminated with multiple mycotoxins and producers are looking for a broad-spectrum solution to safeguard their business.  

TOXO®-XL, a broad-spectrum mycotoxin risk management product from Trouw Nutrition, integrates three science-based modes of action (3D Approach). First, it effectively reduces mycotoxin entry into blood circulation by high quality bentonite (smectite-based). Second, it maintains intestinal epithelial integrity with the help of selected glucose biopolymers of yeast origin. Intestinal epithelial integrity, more specifically the tight junctions, which are multi-protein complexes, inhibits the intercellular transport of toxins and pathogens into the blood circulation. Lastly, TOXO-XL can modulate the immunity with the help of patented purified beta-glucans.  

in vivo Validation Proof for Toxo-XL 

TOXO-XL has been validated through various established in vivo models, with the collaboration between Trouw Nutrition and independent scientific partners. Most recently, a trial was conducted at Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University (Wuhan, Hubei, China). In this trial, 26-week-old Roman laying hens were enrolled and randomly allocated into five experimental groups. 

The trial results showed that after a 12-week exposure to mycotoxins, there was a significant reduction in egg-laying rate from 90.6 to 85.8% (p<0.05; data not shown) and TOXO-XL inclusion improved egg-laying rate significantly to 88.8% (p<0.05). Mycotoxin contamination increased FCR from 2.18 to 2.26. TOXO-XL inclusion was able to reduce this ratio back to 2.18, while for two other products FCR ended at 2.29 and 2.27. The return on investment (ROI) for TOXO-XL inclusion was positive and reached 3.9:1, while for both benchmarks’ ROI were negative. 

Concluding remarks 

Latest research on mycotoxins in livestock and poultry has shown that both gut health and immunity are significantly compromised by multiple mycotoxins. Research over last few decades has also shown that mycotoxin binding alone is not sufficient to manage multiple mycotoxin risk in animals. Mycotoxin Risk Management strategy combining mycotoxin binding concept along with means of improving gut health and immunity are of paramount importance in not only enhancing animal health and performance but also improving the bottom line of business operations. 

*References can be obtained by contacting authors.