SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2023 55 Consequently, the feed industry has developed several approaches designed to detoxify mycotoxins and these include physical, chemical and biotransformation strategies. Physical remediation strategies include the use of adsorption agents, whereas a chemical approach focuses on the use of oxidising agents, aldehydes, acids or bases. These different mitigation strategies have strengths and weaknesses. For example, chemical strategies may be effective in some situations, but understandably raise concerns about harmful residues in feed and food. And while physical remediation strategies are appropriate to counter the threat of some mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, others require biotransformation due to their physical structure. An example of a mycotoxin that requires biotransformation to reduce its toxic effect is zearalenone (ZON). ZON is an oestrogenic toxin, in that it mimics the effect of the reproductive hormone oestrogen. Consequently, it has an impact on animal fertility. ZON may influence fertility by decreasing lutropin and progesterone secretion and altering the morphology of uterine tissues. In male animals, ZON is associated with reduced serum testosterone, testes weight and spermatogenesis. Whilst the impact of ZON is not as concerning from a human health perspective as the threat posed by aflatoxins, it is still important to counter potential feed contamination because of the adverse effects on livestock production and fertility. ZON also presents a challenge in that its effects may not be seen until it is too late – invariably when later in the production cycle fertility challenges are observed. From a remediation perspective, research has shown that UltraSorb can transform ZON (see figure 1) leading to ZON concentration reduction and an increase in the daughter metaboFigure 1. In vitro work demonstrating the ability of UltraSorb to biotransform ZON, as measured through the reduction in concentration of ZON and increase in concentration of daughter metabolites α-ZOL and β-ZOL For more information visit volac.com or contact feedadditives@volac.com. Reduce the threat of mycotoxins Copyright © 2023 Volac International Ltd. All rights reserved.
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