MYCOTOXINS ▶▶▶
Mycotoxins in pigs: The state of DON research
BY TREENA HEIN, CORRESPONDENT D
ON is the most common mycotoxin in pig feed. It is found in corn and cereals that have suffered infec- tions of Fusarium fungus. There are limits to the amount of DON allowed in pig feed because even
small amounts affect pig performance. There has therefore been a great deal of research into how to measure and miti- gate the effects of DON and other mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and zearalenone (ZEN). A few hundred mycotoxins with widely different chemical structures have been identified to date.
Latest findings – effects on pig health In a 2021 review of research on DON and other mycotoxins, Dr Sung Woo Kim at North Carolina State University and his colleagues concluded that effects of these compounds on pigs include immune modulation, disruption of intestinal barrier function and cell death. “In our paper published in May 2021, we found that DON consumption by pigs altered [brain bio- chemistry] and resulted in increased passive and quiescent behaviour,” says Kim. DON was also shown to damage the study pigs’ intestinal tracts due to “a direct toxic effect”. A recent study on suckling piglets found that when DON, ZEN and their derivatives are transferred from the sow diet to the piglets through colostrum and milk, the performance of the piglets was not affected, but an inflammatory process was taking place in their bodies. Kim notes that based on his research with colleagues, prepar- ing young pigs with good intestinal health to handle DON challenge is currently an effective way to cope with DON.
Latest findings – detoxification of DON Regarding the feed itself, many strategies and feed additives (detoxifiers) have been examined in terms of their ability to reduce or mitigate the effects of DON and other mycotoxins. In a new review published in January 2022, researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University in China conclude that the various strategies each have advantages and disadvantages.
Strategies include: • Physical detoxification (separation, washing, heating, irradiation and adsorption) • Chemical treatments (bases and oxidising agents)
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 30, No. 3, 2022 15
Deoxynivalenol – better known by its abbreviation “DON” – continues to keep researchers busy. As new modes of action of this mycotoxin are being discovered, the question remains: how can we mitigate its negative effects on pigs? This overview provides a summary.
• Biological detoxification methods (micro-organisms and en- zymes)
• Nutritional regulation strategies (antioxidants such as vita- min E, selenium and curcumin) (see also Table 1).
However, the researchers note that many of the physical and chemical decontamination strategies that have been ex- plored are limited in terms of binding efficiency, biosafety or cost-effectiveness. That view is shared by Professor Piotr Jedziniak of the Depart- ment of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the National Veteri- nary Research Institute in Poland. “There are no effective ad- sorbents for DON because of its chemical properties,” he says. “There is research into various biological agents that could degrade mycotoxins such as micro-organisms and enzymes, but in my opinion, the capability of biological additives is, so far, not sufficient. They activate in the stomach, and there are very few experiments showing good effectiveness. Part of the
Artist’s impres- sion of the Fusarium fun- gus, which can lead to the pres- ence of the my- cotoxin DON in feedstuffs.
ILLUSTRATION: SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
