Hidden Hazards Revealed: Mycotoxins and Their Masked Forms in Poultry

Abstract

The presence of mycotoxins and their masked forms in chicken feed poses a significant threat to both productivity and health. This review examines the multifaceted impacts of mycotoxins on various aspects of chicken well-being, encompassing feed efficiency, growth, immunity, antioxidants, blood biochemistry, and internal organs. Mycotoxins, toxic substances produced by fungi, can exert detrimental effects even at low levels of contamination. The hidden or masked forms of mycotoxins further complicate the situation, as they are not easily detected by conventional methods but can be converted into their toxic forms during digestion. Consequently, chickens are exposed to mycotoxin-related risks despite apparently low mycotoxin levels. The consequences of mycotoxin exposure in chickens include reduced feed efficiency, compromised growth rates, impaired immune function, altered antioxidant levels, disturbances in blood biochemical parameters, and adverse effects on internal organs. To mitigate these impacts, effective management strategies are essential, such as routine monitoring of feed ingredients and finished feeds, adherence to proper storage practices, and the implementation of feed detoxification methods and mycotoxin binders. Raising awareness of these hidden hazards is crucial for safeguarding chicken productivity and health.

Problems and Mitigation Strategies of Trichothecenes Mycotoxins in Laying Hens Production

“…Trichothecenes, a class of mycotoxins primarily produced by Fusarium fungi, pose significant challenges to laying hens production due to their toxicological effects on poultry health and egg quality [58]. Implementing effective mitigation strategies involves a multi-faceted approach that addresses both pre-harvest and post-harvest factors, focusing on preventing mycotoxin contamination in feed ingredients and minimizing the impact of contaminated feed on laying hens [59].…”

The Potential of Multi-Screening Methods and Omics Technologies to Detect Both Regulated and Emerging Mycotoxins in Different Matrices

“…It is also important to mention the challenges associated with the determination and quantification of so-called masked or hidden mycotoxins. These are biologically modified metabolites of mycotoxins with improved or reduced toxicity compared with parent mycotoxins and are difficult to detect through classical and/or targeted analytical methods [ 59 ]. These can be attached to carbohydrates or proteins, thus hampering their extraction from the matrix of interest through the available extraction protocols designed for different classes of toxins [ 59 ].…”

“…These are biologically modified metabolites of mycotoxins with improved or reduced toxicity compared with parent mycotoxins and are difficult to detect through classical and/or targeted analytical methods [ 59 ]. These can be attached to carbohydrates or proteins, thus hampering their extraction from the matrix of interest through the available extraction protocols designed for different classes of toxins [ 59 ]. The modified and/or altered physicochemical properties are related to different chromatographic behaviors and are difficult to identify because of the lack of authentic standard compounds.…”

“…As comprehensively reviewed by Okasha et al [ 59 ], the occurrence or co-occurrence of masked mycotoxins is higher in food than in feed. The majority of the available research studies are based on the evaluation of modified forms of ZEN resulting from phase I and phase II biotransformations.…”

“…In this regard, the ability of high-resolution mass spectrometry tools to simultaneously detect multiple mycotoxins (both in their original and masked forms) makes it possible to overcome the previously mentioned limitations [ 62 ]. On the other side, the utilization of these high-throughput analytical methods poses limitations in terms of costs, and, sometimes, data are difficult to compare because of the absence of standardized protocols (mainly when considering sample collection and preparation) [ 59 ]. Therefore, this literature overview suggests and invites researchers working in this field to dedicate a great deal of attention to both free and masked mycotoxins in terms of developing new targeted and untargeted screening methods able to provide a beneficial snapshot of the contamination levels of a food or feed item or the potential toxicity associated with the presence of potentially toxic metabolites and/or hidden forms.…”