the offspring in breeding animals. It has been previously demonstrated that exposure to high levels of ZEN or DON in sows during gestation impairs ovarian function in piglets and transfer of ZEN to the milk of sows has been reported. This way, the progeny will face immediate challenge by mycotoxin exposure in early life.
Mycotoxin transfer from sows to piglets Recent work of Benthem de Grave et al. (2021a) studied the transmission of ZEN, DON, and their derivates to the colostrum and milk of sows. The sows were fed diets naturally contaminated with mycotoxin levels commonly found in the field. Diets contained 250ppb DON in combination with either low ZEN (100 ppb) or high ZEN (300 ppb) from day 109 of gestation until weaning. This study revealed higher transmission of ZEN derivatives in the high ZEN diet to colostrum and milk compared to the low ZEN diet. As piglets face many challenges during early life, the risk of mycotoxin transmission should be considered in contributing to development of disease later in life.
Algoclay-based decontaminant can protect animals Further research was done by the same group of scientists on the use of an algoclay technology to protect animals against mycotoxins. A study with total 15 sows and an average parity of 5 were used in this experiment. Sows were transferred from the gestation unit to the farrowing room after 109 days
of gestation. Sows were divided into 3 groups, fed with a high or a low level of ZEN without decontaminant or high ZEN with algoclay-based decontaminant till 26 days of lactation. The diets were prepared with naturally contaminated feedstuffs and consequently the Fusarium mycotoxin DON was present in all diets at the same level (~250 ppb). As a ZEN source, two batches of sugar beet pulp were used. One had a low contamination, while the other was significantly contaminated with ZEN leading to a low ZEN diet with 100ppb ZEN and high ZEN diet with 300ppb ZEN. At the start of the trial (109 days of gestation), no difference of mycotoxin level was observed in the serum of sows. However, after 33 days of mycotoxin exposure, sows fed diets containing the algoclay decontaminant, significantly reduced ZEN concentration in sow serum (Figure 1). Moreover, there was a numerical tendency to reduce ZEN and DON concentration in piglets’ serum from sows fed algoclay decontaminant after 26 days of lactation and a significant reduction of the DON concentration in the serum of the same group of piglets. This study showed a lower transfer of DON and ZEN from sows to piglets in the presence of the algoclay decontaminant. Piglets face many challenges during their lifetime, especially stress at weaning. Therefore, it is of great importance to minimise any predisposing factors, including mycotoxins, for development of secondary diseases or impaired performances of piglets in growing stages.
References are available on request. ▶ MYCOTOXINS | NOVEMBER 2021 23
Piglets face many challenges during early life. Mycotoxin transmission should be considered a factor to developing disease later in life.
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