The Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Raw Materials and Fish Feeds in Europe and the Potential Effects of Deoxynivalenol (DON) on the Health and Growth of Farmed Fish Species—A Review

Abstract

The first part of this study evaluates the occurrence of mycotoxin patterns in feedstuffs and fish feeds. Results were extrapolated from a large data pool derived from wheat (n = 857), corn (n = 725), soybean meal (n = 139) and fish feed (n = 44) samples in European countries and based on sample analyses by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the period between 2012–2019. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was readily present in corn (in 47% of the samples) > wheat (41%) > soybean meal (11%), and in aquafeeds (48%). Co-occurrence of mycotoxins was frequently observed in feedstuffs and aquafeed samples. For example, in corn, multi-mycotoxin occurrence was investigated by Spearman’s correlations and odd ratios, and both showed co-occurrence of DON with its acetylated forms (3-AcDON, 15-AcDON) as well as with zearalenone (ZEN). The second part of this study summarizes the existing knowledge on the effects of DON on farmed fish species and evaluates the risk of DON exposure in fish, based on data from in vivo studies. A meta-analytical approach aimed to estimate to which extent DON affects feed intake and growth performance in fish. Corn was identified as the ingredient with the highest risk of contamination with DON and its acetylated forms, which often cannot be detected by commonly used rapid detection methods in feed mills. Periodical state-of-the-art mycotoxin analyses are essential to detect the full spectrum of mycotoxins in fish feeds aimed to prevent detrimental effects on farmed fish and subsequent economic losses for fish farmers. Because levels below the stated regulatory limits can reduce feed intake and growth performance, our results show that the risk of DON contamination is underestimated in the aquaculture industry.

Impact of Toxigenic Fungi: An Economic and Health Obstruction to Wellness in Mozambique

“…Comprehensive databases were created in Europe but even in this developed scenario the existing gaps are huge and an obstacle for the harmonization of standards due to the absence of common statistical and study designs [120]. Indeed, proposed standards for different mycotoxins in different substrates are permanently under discussion with new data available but strongly dependent on sampling procedures [121] and the risk of mycotoxin contamination is underestimated in the animal industry [122].…”

Distribution, diagnostics of mycotoxins in feed and prevention of gynecologi-cal pathology in cows

“…Для їхнього розвитку потрібна наявність у поживному субстраті досить великої кількості вологи (Buchheister & Bleich, 2021). Більшість мікотоксинів накопичується в організмі до певного рівня, і лише після цього клінічні ознаки захворювання починають виявлятися (Wu et al, 2014;Koletsi et al, 2021). Мікотоксини в шлунку та кишечнику з корму швидко всмоктуються в кров і переносяться в печінку, нирки й інші органи та тканини, викликаючи крововиливи, розвиток у них дистрофічних і запальних процесів (Ekwomadu et al, 2021;Assis et al, 2021;Siri-Anusornsak et al, 2022).…”

Recent Advances in Mycotoxin Determination in Fish Feed Ingredients

“…AFB1, DON, ZEN, and FB1 belong to the most contaminants of animal feeds [ 34 ]. Mycotoxic contamination may considerably affect animal health, causing functional abnormalities, toxicity hepatic problems, immunotoxicity issues, and reduced growth and animal productivity [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. ZEN may induce reproductive problems such as hyperestrogenism, sterility, and even abortions, affected by the estrogenic activity of ZEN which interferes with animal reproduction [ 40 ].…”