Mycotoxin detoxication of animal feed by different adsorbents

The contamination of animal feed with mycotoxins represents a worldwide pro blem for farmers. These toxins originate from molds whose growth on living and stored plants is almost unavoidable particularly under moist conditions . Mycotoxin-containing feed can cause serious diseases in farm animals resu lting in suffering and even death and thus can cause substantial economic l osses. The most applied method for protecting animals against mycotoxicosis is the utilization of adsorbents mixed with the feed which are supposed to bind the mycotoxins efficiently in the gastro-intestinal tract. Aluminosil icates are the preferred adsorbents, followed by activated charcoal and spe cial polymers. The efficiency of mycotoxin binders, however, differs consid erably depending mainly on the chemical structure of both the adsorbent and the toxin. This review describes the most important types of adsorbents an d the respective mechanisms of adsorption. Data of the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of detoxication are given. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.