Search Results (835)

Zearalenone (ZEA) is an estrogenic Fusarium mycotoxin widely contaminating feed and feedstuffs, and posing significant risks to animal health. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the toxicological effects of dietary exposure to purified ZEA at doses ranging from below to above the Chinese regulatory limit (0.15 mg/kg) in weaned female piglets. Twenty piglets were randomly assigned to five groups (four piglets per group) receiving 0, 0.075, 0.15, 0.3, or 0.6 mg/kg ZEA for 42 days. Results suggested that ZEA promoted systemic oxidative stress, evidenced by decreased serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver across all doses, and in jejunal mucosa at ≥0.15 mg/kg (p < 0.01). Growth performance declined only at 0.6 mg/kg during days 29–42 (p < 0.01), while hemoglobin (HGB) levels (p < 0.01) and ileal villus height (p < 0.05) were reduced at all doses. ZEA also caused inflammatory dysregulation, as evidenced by decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in serum, liver, and intestinal tissues across all doses (p < 0.01), and disrupted reproductive hormones even at 0.075 mg/kg, as indicated by suppressed serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (p < 0.01), which progressed to histopathological damage in uterine and ovarian tissues at higher doses. These preliminary findings, together with significant correlations between oxidative stress markers and multi-organ parameters, suggest that low doses of purified ZEA may induce systemic oxidative stress and subclinical multi-organ toxicity in weaned female piglets, highlighting the need to incorporate redox status into risk assessment and to explore potential antioxidant-based mitigation strategies. However, given the small sample size, these results should be interpreted with caution and warrant validation in larger samples. Full article

Mycotoxin contamination remains a persistent threat to food safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries, driven by conducive tropical agroecological conditions, inadequate post-harvest practices, and limited regulatory governance. This critical narrative review (2009–2024) synthesizes the occurrence data for major staple foods (maize, peanuts, cassava, sorghum, millet, and beans) and dairy products compiled from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, MDPI and institutional sources. It examines the co-occurrence patterns, exposure pathways, and analytical and regulatory gaps. Warm, humid lowland environments favor Aspergillus and aflatoxins, whereas cooler, humid highland zones promote Fusarium, fumonisins, and deoxynivalenol. Across commodities, contamination intensifies along food value chains through inadequate drying, non-hermetic storage, insect damage, and prolonged handling, with processed products generally exhibiting the highest levels of mycotoxins. Regulated mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, ochratoxins, and zearalenone, frequently exceed European Union (EU), East African Community (EAC), and Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) limits in staple foods. Their co-occurrence is widespread, including emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin and enniatins, particularly in maize- and peanut-based products, raising concerns about potential additive or synergistic effects. Aflatoxin M1 in milk highlights plant–feed–animal–human transfer within a One Health framework. Despite increasing evidence, the available data remain fragmented and heterogeneous; rapid tests dominate, while few studies employ multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS methods. Cross-border trade between countries, such as Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola, facilitates the circulation of contaminated commodities in the absence of harmonized standards and risk-based controls. Priorities include harmonized regional surveillance, biomarker-based co-exposure assessment, cost-effectiveness evaluation of mitigation strategies, and regulatory alignment at borders. Coordinated, multisectoral action is essential to reduce chronic dietary exposure and improve food safety across the region. Full article

The effects of broad-spectrum mycotoxin detoxifiers (BSMDs) on growth performance, liver histopathology, jejunal morphology, and oxidative stress were evaluated in broilers fed diets contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. A total of 800 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments, with eight replicates of 25 birds each, and reared for 42 days. The treatments included a basal control diet (CON); a multi-mycotoxin-contaminated diet (MMT) containing aflatoxins (25 µg/kg), zearalenone (135 µg/kg), T2 toxin (85 µg/kg), fumonisin (1.90 mg/kg), and deoxynivalenol (0.70 mg/kg); and the MMT diet supplemented with either 1.0 kg/ton BSMD-1 or 1.5 kg/ton BSMD-2. MMT contamination did not affect growth performance, serum malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 levels, liver enzyme activities, or liver lesion scores. Nevertheless, interleukin-10 levels were lower in birds fed the MMT diet (p = 0.03). In birds fed MMT, there was a substantial decrease (p < 0.05) in the height of the jejunal villi, their surface area, and the ratio of their height to the depth of the crypt. While BSMD-supplemented groups displayed values similar to both CON and MMT, MMT birds had higher fatty liver scores than the control group. Overall, multi-mycotoxin contamination impaired gut morphology and immune balance. BSMD supplementation improved intestinal structure, enhanced immune response, and partially mitigated liver alterations. These findings indicate its potential as a dietary intervention to mitigate the detrimental effects of multi-mycotoxin contamination in broilers. Full article

Food safety requires real-time monitoring of mycotoxins in food, as food products contaminated with these toxins poses major threat to human health. In this study, we proposed a remote-controlled microfluidic platform (RCMP) integrated with chemiluminescent/colorimetric detection system for rapid, cost-effective and real-monitoring of multiple mycotoxins in real samples based on the indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). The RCMP enabled sensitive and automatic detection of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), and fumonisin B1 (FB1) in the range of 4–128 ng/mL, 1–32 ng/mL, and 0.5–16 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) were 2.881 ng/mL for DON, 0.702 ng/mL for ZEA, and 0.470 ng/mL for FB1. In further validation, satisfactory recoveries between 93.57% to 108.47% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 6.92–11.39% were obtained in beer samples. Overall, RCMP provides an automatic, high-throughput and cost-effective method for detection of DON, ZEA, and FB1 and can be confidently applied for monitoring in beer samples. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different aerobic exposure durations on mycotoxin accumulation, nutritional quality changes, and microbial community dynamics of corncob silage. The experiment was divided into four groups: T0 (corncob silage fermented for 45 days without aerobic exposure), T4 (corncob silage exposed to air for 4 days), T8 (corncob silage exposed to air for 8 days), and T12 (corncob silage exposed to air for 12 days). The results showed that after aerobic exposure, the contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), Crude Ash, lactic acid (LA), and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) in all exposed groups (T4, T8, T12) were significantly lower than those in the T0 group, whereas the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), propionic acid (PA), and butyric acid (BA) were significantly higher than those in the T0 group. Exposure to aerobic conditions for 12 days resulted in the four mycotoxins exhibiting levels significantly higher than those in the other groups, and notably, zearalenone (ZEN) and ochratoxin (OT) exhibited a continuous increase in concentration with the extension of aerobic exposure. Aerobic exposure increased bacterial diversity and fungal relative abundance, and significant separations were observed in both bacterial and fungal communities between the T0 group and the aerobic exposure groups. At the phylum level, Firmicutes was the dominant bacterial phylum in the T0 group, while Pseudomonadota became the dominant phylum after aerobic exposure. At the genus level, Lacticaseibacillus was the dominant bacterial genus in the T0 group, whereas Variovorax, Vibrionimonas, and Mycobacterium dominated the bacterial communities in the aerobic exposure groups. The relative abundance of the fungal phylum Ascomycota increased from 30% in the T0 group to 80~90% in the aerobic exposure groups; the dominant fungal genera shifted from Zygosaccharomyces to Albifimbria and Pichia. In conclusion, prolonged aerobic exposure elevates the concentrations of mycotoxins in corncob silage, reduces the nutritional quality, and induces significant shifts in both bacterial and fungal community compositions. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a widely distributed estrogenic mycotoxin that compromises intestinal health in pigs, but its spatial difference ZEN and niche-specific regulatory effects on the intestinal microbiota remain largely unelucidated. In this study, 12 healthy three-way crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly divided into two treatments. The control group (CON) was fed with the basal diet, and the treatment group (ZEN) was supplemented with 1.5 mg ZEA/kg of the basal diet for 28 days. Chyme and mucosal microorganisms in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum were profiled by using 16S rDNA sequencing. The results indicated that ZEN significantly reduced the α-diversity of ileal chyme, while the abnormal increase in α-diversity of ileal and cecal mucosa represented a pathological signature of intestinal mucosal barrier damage induced by ZEN, which was detrimental to intestinal health. β-Diversity analysis revealed ZEN altered the microbial community composition of the cecal chyme. LEfSe analysis revealed gut segment-specific and niche-specific biomarker taxa among the groups, and functional prediction further indicated that ZEN exposure significantly perturbed key metabolic pathways: it downregulated nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism as well as the citrate cycle in ileal chyme and upregulated the pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway in cecal chyme. Collectively, this study demonstrated the effects of ZEN on the intestinal microbiota across spatial difference and ecological niches in weaned piglets, providing a basis for elucidating the microecological mechanisms underlying ZEN-induced intestinal injury in pigs. Full article

Background: Zearalenone (ZEA) is a potent estrogenic mycotoxin that adversely affects the female reproductive system, causing hormonal imbalance, uterine enlargement, structural changes in the reproductive tract, and reduced fertility. This study evaluated the protective effects of melittin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MEL-NPs) against ZEA-induced ovarian toxicity in female rats. Methods: Forty-eight adult female Wistar rats (180–200 g) were divided into four groups: Control, ZEA, ZEA + MEL, and ZEA + MEL-NPs. ZEA (2.7 mg/kg b.w.) was administered orally twice weekly for two weeks. MEL and MEL-NPs (40 μg/kg b.w.) were given orally three times weekly for one month. Serum biochemical parameters were measured, and ovarian tissues were examined grossly and histopathologically. qRT-PCR was performed to assess mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), apoptotic marker (Caspase-3), and steroidogenic enzyme (CYP19A1). Results: ZEA exposure induced significant ovarian toxicity, evidenced by increased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, LH, FSH, CA-125, and Caspase-3, along with decreased progesterone, antioxidant capacity, and CYP19A1 expression. Histopathology revealed ovarian atrophy, follicular degeneration, and fibrosis. Treatment with MEL-NPs markedly reversed these alterations, normalizing cytokine and hormonal profiles, restoring CYP19A1 expression, and improving ovarian morphology. MEL-NPs demonstrated superior protective effects compared to free MEL. Conclusions: MEL-NPs effectively ameliorate ZEA-induced ovarian toxicity by restoring hormonal balance, enhancing antioxidant defense, and reducing inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that MEL-NPs could be a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing mycotoxin-induced ovarian dysfunction. Full article

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) represent a sustainable protein source for animal feed, efficiently converting organic waste into high-value biomass. This study aimed to valorize agricultural by-products (apple, potato, and red beetroot peels) as rearing substrates to obtain larvae enriched with bioactive phenolic compounds, while evaluating their nutritional, functional, and safety characteristics. Larvae were reared on diets with varying inclusion levels of each peel’s by-products. Proximate analysis showed that the substrate type and inclusion level significantly (p < 0.05) influenced larval composition, with consistently high protein and variable ash and fat contents. Colorimetric measurements indicated that phenolic-rich diets, particularly apple by-products, promoted cuticle darkening, reflecting the impact of dietary phenols on pigmentation. Functional properties were also modulated by the substrates: 2% potato peel yielded the highest phenolic content, while 20% apple peel produced the highest flavonoid concentration, both enhancing antioxidant capacity across CUPRAC-Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity, ABTS-2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and DPPH-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays. Rheological analysis confirmed desirable non-Newtonian, shear-thinning behavior, suggesting improved technological quality. Mycotoxin testing revealed low Aflatoxin B1 but variable Zearalenone levels, highlighting the influence of substrate composition on toxin metabolism. Overall, agricultural by-products can produce enriched BSFL with enhanced nutritional and antioxidant properties, as long as the substrate choice and inclusion levels are carefully optimized for safety. Full article

This study investigated the mechanisms by which ZEA induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in the jejunum of piglets and explored the roles of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways. Twelve weaned piglets were randomized into Control (basal diet) and ZEA groups (basal diet + 1.0 mg/kg ZEA; 6 piglets/group). No differences were observed between the control and ZEA groups for all production performance indicators. Compared with the jejunum of the control group, the ZEA group exhibited reduced levels of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity, and total antioxidant capacity, along with elevated malondialdehyde content. Morphological examination revealed increased crypt depth and decreased villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio, as well as swollen, vacuolated spherical mitochondria with disrupted cristae. Immunohistochemistry showed enhanced p53 and Nrf2 immunoreactivity. The relative mRNA levels of Nrf2, Ho1, Gpx1, Cytc1, p53, Caspase1, and Bax increased. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased, and Keap1 and Bcl-2 mRNA levels decreased. The relative protein levels of Nrf2, p53, Bax, Caspase1, and Gpx1 increased, whereas that of Bcl-2 decreased. All differences were significant at p < 0.05. Dietary supplementation with ZEA altered the morphological structure of intestinal tissues and mitochondria. By affecting the expression of genes related to the p53 and Nrf2 signaling pathways, it induces intestinal oxidative stress and apoptosis, thereby impairing intestinal health in weaned piglets. Full article

Mycotoxins are the most frequently occurring natural contaminant in food and feed products. Through the deployment of diverse agricultural strategies or biological, chemical, or physical treatments of crop products, mycotoxin contamination remains a persistent issue for the agricultural sector and food/feed industry. We previously suggested that halophytes, thanks to their high antioxidant activity, could protect animal cell lines from mycotoxin contamination. Here, a hydroalcoholic extract of Calystegia soldanella L. leaves was evaluated for in vitro total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-quenching bioassays, as well as anti-inflammatory (ELISA measurement of IL-8 secretion), ROS-inhibiting production (CellROX Green assay), and calcium influx restoration (fluorescent probe Fura2-QBT assay) activities in two animal cells upon mycotoxin intoxication. C. soldanella extract displayed high antioxidant activities (DPPH IC₅₀ < 80 μg·mL⁻¹ and TAC of 90 mg AAE·g⁻¹ DW. Moreover, it exhibited a significant protective action on renal (MDBK) and intestinal (IPEC-J2) cells against zearalenone (ZEA) or T2-toxin contamination, restoring about 75% of cell viability (MTS bioassay) at 1 μg·mL⁻¹. This effect was accompanied by strong anti-inflammatory, ROS-inhibition, and membrane integrity restoration activities. A bio-guided study revealed that the fraction of C. soldanella extract eluted from C18-bound silica with 60% methanol was the most active one. Upon HPLC and 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses, major compounds identified in this fraction were flavonol-type flavonoids, including quercetin-3-O-glucose (X1), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (X2), and quercetin-3-O-glucose-6″-acetate (X3). Enriched sub-fractions containing these compounds largely contributed to the cytoprotective effects of C. soldanella, supporting its potential use as a food/feed ingredient. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent estrogenic mycotoxin found in grains and oils, poses significant health risks due to its endocrine-disrupting properties. This study elucidates the application of a laccase-mimicking copper-tannic acid (CuTA) nanozyme as an effective catalyst for the degradation of ZEN. The CuTA nanozyme was capable of directly catalyzing the oxidation of ZEN, with optimal reaction conditions observed at a pH of 7.0 and temperatures ranging from 37 to 57 °C. The degradation products of ZEN were identified as 13-hydroxy-zearalenone (13-OH-ZEN) and 15-hydroxy-zearalenone (15-OH-ZEN). Furthermore, cytotoxicity assessments demonstrated that the CuTA nanozyme-mediated degradation of ZEN effectively reduced the hepatotoxicity of this mycotoxin. The E-screen bioassay revealed a 43.7-fold reduction in the estrogenic activity of ZEN after CuTA-mediated degradation. In corn oil, the CuTA nanozyme achieved 82% ZEN removal within 12 h and maintained 58% efficiency after four reuse cycles. These results highlight the potential use of the CuTA nanozyme to detoxify ZEN in corn oil. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) are common Fusarium toxins that are found worldwide in contaminated wheat, corn, oats, and other foods. This study investigated the spatial distribution of ZEN and DON within bagged oat bran and the relationships among fungal taxa. A total of 168 oat bran bags arranged in a three-dimensional space (X = 4, Y = 6, Z = 7) were tested for ZEN and DON concentrations via Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and fungal communities were analyzed by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing. Samples were grouped by air-exposed surfaces: G0 (no exposure, n = 48), G1 (one exposed surface, n = 80), G2 (two or three exposed surfaces, n = 40). Results showed strong positive correlations between ZEN and DON spatial distributions (r = 0.691~0.930), with G2 having significantly lower toxin levels than G0 and G1 (p < 0.05). Fusarium spp. (e.g., F. aethiopicum, F. pseudonygamai, and F. fujikuroi) were positively correlated with ZEN and DON (p < 0.05), indicating that they are the primary producers of these mycotoxins. Talaromyces (T. funiculosus and T. stollii) and Sarocladium (S. kiliense and S. strictum) were positively correlated with ZEN, DON, and Fusarium spp., while the yeasts D. hungarica, V. victoriae, and H. sinensis exhibited a negative association with those (p < 0.05). Overall, the distribution of ZEN and DON in bagged oat bran was heterogeneous in three-dimensional space, and the distribution pattern was related to air exposure. The extent of air exposure influenced the composition of the fungal community, and the taxa correlating with Fusarium spp. showed potential synergistic or antagonistic associations, collectively influencing the accumulation of mycotoxins. This study provides a reference basis for the prevention of mold contamination during the stacked bag storage of feedstuffs. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin that adversely affects directly exposed individuals, yet the intergenerational consequences of paternal ZEN exposure remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of paternal ZEN exposure on hepatic outcomes in F1 offspring, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. Kunming male mice (F0) were fed a ZEN-supplemented diet (10 mg/kg bw/day) for 5 weeks. Their F1 offspring developed hepatic steatosis, elevated oxidative stress, and a chronic inflammatory state. Proteomic analysis of F1 livers revealed significant dysregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB and chemokine signaling, with reduced MHC-I and increased MHC-II levels. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how paternal ZEN exposure disrupts hepatic immune-metabolic homeostasis in F1 offspring, highlighting a critical and understudied pathway in intergenerational toxicology. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a prevalent non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin in feed and feedstuffs. This study investigated the effects of graded dietary purified ZEA standard (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) on growth performance, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress, immune response, intestinal morphology, histopathology, and gut microbiota in broilers. The use of purified ZEA standard eliminates confounding effects from co-occurring contaminants and the reduced nutritional quality of naturally contaminated feed, allowing an accurate assessment of ZEA-specific effects. A total of 216 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allocated into six treatment groups, each with six replicates of six birds, for a 42-day trial. At the regulatory limit (0.5 mg/kg) and below, no overt toxic effects were observed on growth performance, hematology, or serum biochemistry. Although alterations in oxidative stress markers, specifically decreased liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced ileal glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and in immune markers, including increased interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in the jejunum and ileum and decreased ileal interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, were observed at 0.2–0.5 mg/kg, these changes did not cause tissue damage or functional impairment. Toxicological alterations emerged only at higher doses (1–4 mg/kg), comprising impaired jejunal morphology and moderate lung secretory cell metaplasia. The highest dose (4 mg/kg) further induced severe renal tubular degeneration and necrosis, accompanied by significant disruption of the jejunal microbiota. In conclusion, these findings indicate that purified ZEA at the regulatory limit exhibits no overt toxicity in broilers, although higher contamination levels pose clear risks to intestinal, pulmonary, and renal health. Full article

Extreme weather impacts the ecological niches of fungi, altering mycotoxin risks in wildlife. We analyzed mycotoxin carry-over into European fallow deer (Dama dama) milk across seasons and assessed how drought influences the shift from Fusarium to Aspergillus mycotoxins and affects physiological resilience. Samples were collected during 2021/2022 and a drought-stricken 2022/2023 from South Transdanubia and Northeastern Hungary. Aflatoxin B1/M1 (AFB1/AFM1), Fumonisin B1 (FB1), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Zearalenone (ZEN), and Body Condition Scores (BCS) were measured to evaluate the impact of exposure on health status. The severe drought significantly altered the mycotoxin profile: ZEN levels declined significantly (from a median of 0.28 to 0.00 ng/mL), consistent with the moisture requirements of Fusarium graminearum, whereas DON concentrations increased. Concurrently, AFM1 persisted, exhibiting increased variance and extreme outliers in the maize-dominated South Transdanubian region. Distinct pharmacokinetic patterns were observed, and positive correlations were observed between milk and feces for lipophilic toxins, validating milk as a possible biomarker. Hydrophilic DON showed no correlation despite its accumulation. Emergence of “Poor” BCS group carrying loads supports “condition-dependent foraging” hypothesis, as stressed individuals are forced to consume contaminated resources, exacerbating oxidative stress and metabolic deficits. Full article