In need of more than (myco)toxin binders

No doubt, mycotoxins present one of the biggest issues in modern animal farming. Recent evidence suggests that even low levels of multiple mycotoxins, under long-term field exposure, can impact the animal performance and health. This negative, synergistic impact is exacerbated when combined with other stress factors, typically seen in real farming production, such as climatic conditions, stock density, poor quality of feed, low level of (subclinical) infections etc. To contextualise: the cumulative impact of the long-term exposure to several mycotoxins (even at low level) in the same farm, may be completely different between winter and summer. We thus, miss the bigger picture. That means we are in need of comprehensive technologies, with multiple modes of action and proven efficacy in vivo. Comprehensive technologies that can help the animal confront several stress factors under the prism of a concomitant mycotoxin exposure, even if the latter is considered low. As such, Escent^® S is a pioneering technology that helps animals cope with both abiotic and biotic stressors via a multifaceted, holistic approach. In vivo data back-up the five modes of action Escent^® S:

1. Prevention against oxidative stress

2. Support of the liver and kidney functions

3. Stimulation of the animal's immunity

4. Triggering biotransformation processes within the liver and detoxification

5. Adsorption and binding of polar (water soluble) toxins

Reducing systemic exposure to mycotoxins

Previous in vitro testing has proven the great ability of Escent^® S to bind a great number of mycotoxins. However, in vitro results do not warrant an equal level of efficacy in vivo. For this reason, Innovad^® in collaboration with Gent University (Belgium), developed and validated a 'biomarker' method that detects mycotoxins and their (phase I and phase II) metabolites in the blood of chickens and pigs. The validated method was, then, deployed for the evaluation of the in vivo detoxification efficacy of Escent^® S, with very promising results. The research revealed that Escent^® S exerted a significant detoxifying ability and reduced the systemic exposure of multiple mycotoxins in both species.

Fig. 1 (a) Mean high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) peak area-time curves (+SD) of deoxynivalenol-sulphate (DON-S) and, (b) Mean concentration–time curves (+SD) of AFB1 in plasma of broiler chickens after oral administration of a bolus of DON (5 mg/kg feed), OTA (2.5 mg/kg feed), and AFB1 (20 mg/kg feed) mix, either with the Escent^® group, (n = 8, blue curve) or without (control group, n = 8, orange curve). Adapted from Lauwers et al, Toxins 2019, 11, 187; doi:10.3390/toxins11040187

Although the findings themselves are particularly important, the real breakthrough has been the shift away from a simplistic toxin binding approach. To this, under the Escent^®S treatment even non-polar mycotoxins (like zearalenone) were systemically reduced. The evaluation of commercial technologies against several mycotoxins and their in vivo detoxification efficacy, thus, remains key.

Myco-Marker^®: Transforming the way to measure mycotoxin exposure

Perhaps, the biggest challenge in mycotoxin management remains the elucidation of the true impact of mycotoxins to animals. To fully assess this, it is necessary to know (and be able to measure) the true exposure of animals to mycotoxins. Field surveys and feed analysis are valuable tools, but their real usefulness (when applied in isolation) remains highly questionable, since they cannot 'quantify the true exposure' of animals to mycotoxins. This limitation can underestimate greatly the true risk. Recently, 'biomarker' analysis in biological fluids has been proposed as the right tool for the assessment of the systemic exposure to xenobiotics. The collaboration between Innovad and Ghent University has, indeed, resulted in the simultaneous detection of twenty-nine (29) mycotoxins and their (phase I and phase II) metabolites in blood. The findings of this primary research have now been translated into Myco-Marker^®: a novel and pioneering service to the Industry. Myco-Marker^®, for the first time, offers the producer the ability to measure the true exposure of animals to mycotoxins and evaluate their impact on animal health and performance. Myco-Marker^®, via a unique holistic approach, combines feed and blood LC-MS/MS analyses with the animal's health status. An extremely easy, cheap and user-friendly sampling system has been developed for field application. The system requires no plasma separation, special procedures and tubes. No import restrictions apply and samples can be received from all over the world.

A comprehensive stress management program

For the first time, the ability to a) measure the true animal exposure to mycotoxins and b) evaluate their direct impact on animal health and performance, empowers the Innovad mycotoxin experts to optimize the application of the pioneering mitigation Escent^® S technology.

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Article made possible through the contribution of Innovad

Combating (myco)toxin related stress