Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi, which act as a defense mechanism against other microorganisms, to compete for their survival in the environment. These metabolites contaminate feed and raw materials used in animal feed causing disorders in different organs and decreasing animal productivity.

Mycotoxins with the highest prevalence during 2020 and presumably during the first quarter of 2021, in Russia and Eastern Europe were trichothecenes (T-2 and DON) and zearalenone. These mycotoxins affect both the gut health and reproductive parameters of animals, decreasing their productive performance.

From Biovet S.A. we develop and patent the world’s first mycotoxin binder molecule, Silicoglycidol, capable of joining mycotoxins of all chemical groups with effects on animal production. This patented molecule has proven its effectiveness in more than 50 countries for more than 35 years.

Prevalence of mycotoxins in Russia and Eastern Europe

Studies conducted during the last part of 2020, as well as predictions for the first quarter of 2021, show an increase in the prevalence of trichothecenes (T2) in feed, placing itself as the most prevalent mycotoxin 42% in Russia and Eastern Europe.

The second most prevalent mycotoxin in this area will be Zearalenone, whose prevalence was around 41% in the last quarter of 2020.

A mycotoxin that is noteworthy, especially because of the losses it causes in pigs is deoxinivalenol (DON), which ranks third in terms of prevalence with 37%.

These high percentages of contamination mean that it is common for feed to be contaminated by more than one mycotoxin simultaneously. Mycotoxins have a synergistic effect among them, increasing their harmful effects on animals. Therefore, it is essential to prevent the absorption of all mycotoxins, even if they are at low concentrations.

Effects of mycotoxins on animal production

• Effects of Trichothecenes

Trichothecenes are mycotoxins produced by different species of fungi of the genus Fusarium, which have a great impact on both poultry and swine, due to their direct effect on feed intake and gut health. Mycotoxin T-2 and deoxynivalenol, also known as vomitoxin, are the most important trichothecenes in animal production.

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Deoxynivalenol (DON) or vomitoxin is the mycotoxin with the greatest impact on productivity throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. This mycotoxin is especially important in pigs, where doses of 0.3-1 ppm reduce the feed intake and growth of these animals. In poultry doses between 0.7-16 ppm of DON reduce growth as well as reduce the egg production in laying hens.

The DON has a cytotoxic effect, causing the necrosis of the cells it contacts with, through its sesquiterpene group. At the same time, it affects tight junctions between the enterocytes, disturbing intestinal permeability and favoring the entrance of other microorganisms into the animal.

For pigs, feed intake and feed conversion rate are the most affected parameters, with a reduction of between 1% and 10% depending on the contamination level.

Mycotoxin T-2

T-2 mycotoxins are characterized by having a cytotoxic and genotoxic effect when they contact animal cells. These effects are visible both at the dermal level, as well as at the digestive and liver level.

T-2 mycotoxins, like DON, inhibit protein synthesis in the cells and are especially harmful in those cells with a high rate of multiplication such as intestinal cells.

At the same time, these mycotoxins have been shown to affect lymphoid cells, causing immunosuppression.

The most common symptoms in animals affected by this mycotoxin include, feed intake reduction, with necrosis at the tip of the tongue and in the snout in the case of pigs and delayed growth of animals.

In the case of laying hens this mycotoxin produces significant economic losses, because doses of only 1 mg/kg reduce by 12.5% the percentage of egg produced.

• Effects of Zearalenone

Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin, of the lactonic group, produced by species of the genus Fusarium, especially relevant in the case of pigs, where it causes reproductive failures.

Birds are more resistant to this mycotoxin, because circulating estrogen levels in blood are much higher than pigs.

Externally the most frequently observed symptom in mycotoxicosis produced by zearalenone is vulvitis, especially in young bristles, as well as an increase in the number of repetitions and prolongation of the anestrus. Internally, an increase in the size of the uterus is observed.

The reproductive failures caused by zearalenone have a marked impact on the profitability of swine production.

Alquerfeed Antitox – the effective solution against mycotoxins

To prevent mycotoxins from causing these alterations in animals, negatively affecting productivity, it is necessary to include a mycotoxin binder effective against all of them and that has been extensively tested under different field conditions.

From Biovet S.A. we have been working for more than thirty years to prevent the effects of mycotoxins on animal productivity. We developed and patented the world’s first mycotoxin binding molecule (1988), the Silicoglycidol.

This molecule has a unique chemical optimized for binding mycotoxins. It has a wide spectrum of action, being effective against all mycotoxins with impact on animal productivity, proven efficacy, through in vitro trials, as well as, in commercial trials, at a dose of only 0.5 kg/t.

In addition, it has been proven that the molecule remains bound to the mycotoxins throughout the animal’s digestive tract, ensuring its excretion in the feces. This is because it forms hydrogen bonds, very stable, with mycotoxins that prevent their separation despite modifications of the physicochemical conditions that occur throughout the digestive tract.

At the same time, the specificity of this molecule has been proven, so that it does not capture other nutrients present in the diet, such as vitamins or amino acids.

Silicoglycidol ensures that the percentage of binding is maintained throughout the digestive tract, with a percentage greater than 84,5% in the case of DON, 72.8% in the case of T2 and 74.2% in the case of zearalenone, ensuring the protection of animals.

From Biovet S.A., we have carried out field trials to check the effectiveness of Silicoglycidol under commercial conditions. A trial was performed on 63 kg pigs, which were fed feed contaminated with DON (4 ppm) and Zearalenone (1 ppm). This trial showed that Silicoglycidol improves average daily gain (ADG) by 22.61% while reducing the feed conversion rate (FCR) by 13.28%, compared to a competitive binder.

At the same time, it has been observed that in breeding sows, fed with feed contaminated with Zearalenone (1 ppm), the use of Silicoglycidol allows to reduce the incidence of vulvitis by 23%.

Conclusion

Deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone and T-2 were the most prevalent mycotoxins in Russia and Eastern Europe during the last part of 2020 and this prevalence is expected to continue during the first quarter of 2021.

These mycotoxins have a marked impact on production, both in poultry and swine, as they affect feed intake, reduce the growth rate of up to 21%, increase the feed conversion rate by 1-10% and generate serious reproductive problems in pigs that reduce farm profitability.

Silicoglycidol is an effective tool for the control of these mycotoxins, with a biding percentage of 84.5% in the case of DON, 74.2% for zearalenone and 72.8% for T-2, protection. This increased protection is reflected in higher productivity, its use in pigs allows to improve ADG by 22.61% and reduce the FCR by 13.28%.

Silicoglycidol is marketed in biovet S.A.’s mycotoxin binder line Alquerfeed, which includes products such as Alquerfeed Antitox (100% Silicoglycidol-based).

Bibliography

• Borrell, J. (1990). Fungal metabolites in food. Royal Academy of Veterinary Sciences of Spain (RACVE).
• Liu, Jundi; Applegate, Todd. (2020). “Zearalenone (ZEN) in Livestock and Poultry: Dose, Toxicokinetics, Toxicity and Estrogenicity” Toxins 12, no. 6: 377. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12060377
• Riahi, Insaf & Marquis, Virginie & Ramos, Antonio & Brufau, Joaquim & Esteve-Garcia, E. & Pérez-Vendrell, Anna. (2020). Effects of Deoxynivalenol-Contaminated Diets on Productive, Morphological, and Physiological Indicators in Broiler Chickens. Animals. 10. 10.3390/ani10101795.
• Sokolovic, Marijana & Garaj-Vrhovac, Vera & Simpraga, Borka. (2008). T-2 Toxin: Incidence and Toxicity in Poultry. Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju. 59. 43-52. 10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1843.