Review of Mycotoxin-Detoxifying Agents Used as Feed Additives: Mode of Action, Efficacy and Feed/Food Safety

Mycotoxins are small and quite stable molecules which are extremely difficult to remove or eradicate, and which enter the feed chain while keeping their toxic properties. The mycotoxins of major concern as feed contaminants that are potentially removable from feed, are mainly aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, Fusarium toxins (trichothecenes like deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, nivalenol, T2-toxin/HT2-toxin, zearalenone and fumonisins). One of the strategies for reducing the exposure to mycotoxins is to decrease their bioavailability by including various mycotoxin-adsorbing agents in the compound feed, which leads to a reduction of mycotoxin uptake as well as distribution to the blood and target organs. Another strategy is the degradation of mycotoxins into non-toxic metabolites by using biotransforming agents such as bacteria/fungi or enzymes. <P> The specific objectives of the project are to provide a critical and extensive review on mycotoxins detoxifying agents.