ISSUE FOCUS 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2025 Alltech® RAPIREAD™ technology is another effective option, enabling feed producers to quickly identify and analyze up to seven key mycotoxins on-farm. Producers should also periodically send samples of their feedstuffs and final feeds for a full-spectrum analysis by a certified lab such as the Alltech 37+ lab, which can detect up to 54 different mycotoxins. Based on the results of those analyses, feed producers can strategically supplement mycotoxin-adsorbing agents — such as those in the Mycosorb® range from Alltech — in their formulas. Some producers may decide to include these agents for prophylactic purposes without necessarily implementing a full mycotoxin-monitoring plan. Another common feed-formulation strategy is to include mold inhibitors, such as Alltech’s MoldZap®, to help inhibit fungal growth and minimize the risk of contamination during storage. THE ROLE OF YEAST CELL WALL EXTRACT (YCWE) Evaluating the effectiveness of any multi-binding agent is crucial, considering that feedstuffs and aquafeeds are commonly contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. In the literature, Mycosorb solutions are referred to as yeast cell wall extract and backed by decades of scientific research. Among the various detoxifying agents with multiple-mycotoxin-binding claims tested in vitro, YCWE has demonstrated the greatest efficacy, adsorbing more than 50% of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, T-2 toxin and aflatoxin B1. YCWE has also been successfully tested in vivo in several aquatic species. Mycosorb technology consists of insoluble carbohydrates primarily derived from the glucans in the cell walls of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain of yeast. Mycosorb A+® goes a step further by combining these yeast cell wall components with carbohydrate components from algae. The flexible surfaces of these active yeast cell wall components facilitate the absorption of free mycotoxins. More specifically, β-D-glucans feature spaces that align perfectly with specific mycotoxins, making them optimal binding sites. The algal components of Mycosorb A+ further enhance its binding capacity, allowing it to adsorb a broader range of mycotoxins. Unlike clay-based mycotoxin binders, the yeast and algae components of this solution do not interact with the essential nutrients, minerals or vitamins included in the diet. Instead, they specifically bind mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract, inhibiting the absorption of mycotoxins into the bloodstream and their distribution to target organs. They also promote the excretion of mycotoxins through the feces. As a result, the bioavailability of these mycotoxins is minimized, as is their potential impact on animal health and performance. About Dr. Vivi Koletsi Dr. Vivi Koletsi is a Global Technical Support Specialist within Alltech’s Technology Group. She collaborates with the company’s global aqua team regarding all technologies on the aquatic species side. Dr. Koletsi, a native of Ioannina, Greece, first became interested in aquaculture while completing her undergraduate studies in biology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She began focusing on fish nutrition in earnest while pursuing her master’s degree in aquaculture and marine resource management at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. This interest led her to complete an internship with Alltech Coppens, during which she established a protocol to help prevent mycotoxin contamination in aqua feeds. Upon earning her master’s degree, Dr. Koletsi continued her mycotoxin research at the doctoral level with support from Alltech in collaboration with the Aquaculture and Fisheries Group at Wageningen University & Research. While completing her doctoral studies, Dr. Koletsi conducted trials at Alltech Coppens’ facilities while continuing laboratory work at Wageningen. Her focus was on mycotoxins’ impact on rainbow trout. Dr. Koletsi joined Alltech as a team member upon completion of her Ph.D. in 2023.
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