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Toxins
Special Issues
Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Nutrition and Its Mitigation Strategies
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Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Nutrition and Its Mitigation Strategies

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Mycotoxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 3138

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Enkai Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Interests: mycotoxin; animal nutrition; immunology; tight junction; rotavirus; intestinal organoid
Dr. Hang Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
United Animal Health, Sheridan, IN 46069, USA
Interests: mycotoxin; animal nutrition; gut microbiome; immunity and cell culture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of trichothecene mycotoxins in feed and food has emerged as a major threat to both animal and human health, as up to 25% of cereal production across the globe could be contaminated with these mycotoxins. The intestine has been shown to be the first physical barrier against external food contaminants and the major target organ for these mycotoxins. Regardless of the way of exposure, mycotoxin can be rapidly absorbed and then widely distributed after oral consumption. The presence of mycotoxins in cereal products and byproducts has been shown to induce different toxic effects on mammals, including feed refusal, vomiting, salivation, and weight loss. Thus, the understanding of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of mycotoxin is critical for risk assessments and the development of mitigation strategies. In addition, mycotoxin-induced gut damage in animals has a negative consequence on the health status of animals that could be easily exacerbated by other stressors, such as pathogens and endotoxins. Recently, a growing number of physical, chemical, and nutritional detoxification methods have been developed to control mycotoxin contamination. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to summarize recent advances in mycotoxin’s impact on animal health, as well as strategies for mitigation.

Dr. Enkai Li
Dr. Hang Lu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mycotoxin
  • gut health
  • mitigation
  • environment
  • growth performance
  • immunology
  • toxicology
  • microbiota

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 549 KB  
Article
Optimisation of a One-Step Reusable Immuno-Affinity Purification Method for the Analysis and Detection of Fumonisin Mycotoxins in Foods and Feeds
by Christian Kosisochukwu Anumudu
Toxins 2025, 17(11), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17110538 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 668
Abstract
Fumonisins are among the most prevalent mycotoxins in maize and maize-based products, posing significant food safety and public health risks due to their hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and potential carcinogenic effects. Given the strict regulatory limits set by the European Commission and Codex Alimentarius, the [...] Read more.
Fumonisins are among the most prevalent mycotoxins in maize and maize-based products, posing significant food safety and public health risks due to their hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and potential carcinogenic effects. Given the strict regulatory limits set by the European Commission and Codex Alimentarius, the development of reliable, sensitive, and matrix–robust analytical methods remain a priority for routine monitoring in both food and feed systems. In this study, a reusable immuno-affinity purification methodology for the quantitative determination of fumonisin mycotoxins (FB1, FB2 and FB3) in foods and feeds (maize matrix) was developed. A single extraction protocol using 2% formic acid in water was employed, followed by cleanup with an immuno-affinity purification column and toxin elution by methanol/PBS (1:1, v/v). Detection and quantification of the mycotoxins was achieved by a normal phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/ESI-MS/MS). The chromatographic mobile phase utilised was a linear gradient of methanol/water containing 0.1% formic acid. The developed method has a limit of detection of 2.5 ng/g and a limit of quantification of 5 ng/g, all well below the European commission’s guidance values of 1000 ng/g for corn destined for human consumption and 800 ng/g for maize-based breakfast cereals and snacks. While the recovery rates of the method in this study ranged from 65–70% for the three fumonisin analogues in solutions, when tested in maize matrix, recoveries were markedly lower (~30%) due to pronounced matrix suppression. Good repeatability (standard deviation <10%) was achieved for all the fumonisin analogues. The developed method, although quick and effective in solvent systems, suffered limitations to its practical usage due to matrix suppression of the extracts derived from the immuno-affinity purification column, thus significantly reducing the application of the method in measuring fumonisin mycotoxins in food and feed samples. Overall, the method was effective in quantification of fumonisin mycotoxins in solvent solutions but not in food and feed matrices, thus necessitating further optimisation for practical usage. The performance of the developed method was compared to a commercial lateral flow immunochromatographic assay which proved to be better than the developed method in the quantification of toxins in food matrices, as the commercial lateral flow immunochromatographic assay outperformed the developed method in maize matrices. These findings highlight the need for matrix-based validation and further refinement of antibody stability to ensure robust application in regulatory monitoring of fumonisins using immunoaffinity purification methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Nutrition and Its Mitigation Strategies)
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13 pages, 6584 KB  
Article
Protective Effect of Lipoic Acid on Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage Induced by Aflatoxin B1 in Young Laying Hens
by Yihong Chu, Huanbin Wang, Xinyu Xu, Yun Ji, Yiting Zhao, Qianqian Yu, Shahid Ali Rajput, Yi Xue and Desheng Qi
Toxins 2025, 17(4), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040184 - 6 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1013
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the alleviating effect of lipoic acid on oxidative stress and tissue damage induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in young laying hens. The experiment was divided into a control group, an AFB1 [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to investigate the alleviating effect of lipoic acid on oxidative stress and tissue damage induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in young laying hens. The experiment was divided into a control group, an AFB1 group, and three lipoic acid treatment groups. The AFB1 group and three lipoic acid treatment groups were given diets supplemented with 90 μg/kg of AFB1. The additional amounts of lipoic acid were 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg, respectively, with a feeding period of 4 weeks. The experimental results showed that AFB1 significantly increased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and significantly decreased the levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05). In addition, AFB1 damaged the structure of the liver, spleen, and ovarian tissues. Lipoic acid reduced the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA in the serum and increased the levels of TP, ALB, T-SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, lipoic acid also protected mitochondrial structure and alleviated liver, spleen, and ovarian tissue damage caused by AFB1. In summary, lipoic acid can alleviate oxidative stress and tissue damage caused by AFB1 in young laying hens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Nutrition and Its Mitigation Strategies)
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Review

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16 pages, 356 KB  
Review
Mycotoxins and the Intestinal Epithelium: From Barrier Injury to Stem Cell Dysfunction
by Wenying Huo, Yingying Qiao, Xiangru He, Cailing Wang, Ruiqing Li, Long Che and Enkai Li
Toxins 2025, 17(11), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17110534 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 973
Abstract
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that contaminate agricultural commodities, posing risks to food safety, animal productivity, and human health. The gastrointestinal tract is the first and most critical site of exposure, where the intestinal epithelium functions as both a [...] Read more.
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that contaminate agricultural commodities, posing risks to food safety, animal productivity, and human health. The gastrointestinal tract is the first and most critical site of exposure, where the intestinal epithelium functions as both a physical and immunological barrier against luminal toxins and pathogens. While extensive research has demonstrated that mycotoxins disrupt epithelial integrity through tight junction impairment, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation, their effects on the intestinal stem cell (ISC) compartment and epithelial regeneration remain insufficiently understood. This review integrates recent findings from in vivo, cell culture, and advanced 3D intestinal organoid and gut-on-chip models to elucidate how mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol and zearalenone impair ISC proliferation, alter Wnt/Notch signaling, and compromise mucosal repair. We also discuss dose relevance, species differences, and the modulatory roles of the microbiome and short-chain fatty acids, as well as emerging evidence of additive or synergistic toxicity under co-exposure conditions. By bridging well-established mechanisms of barrier disruption with the emerging concept of ISC-driven regenerative failure, this review identifies a critical knowledge gap in mycotoxin toxicology and highlights the need for integrative models that link epithelial damage to impaired regeneration. Collectively, these insights advance understanding of mycotoxin-induced intestinal dysfunction and provide a foundation for developing nutritional, microbial, and pharmacological strategies to preserve gut integrity and repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Nutrition and Its Mitigation Strategies)
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