Insights from the 2023 World Mycotoxin Forum

Authors: Martin Minchin, Mycotoxin Management Marketing Manager, Alltech and Chloe Chisholm, Digital Marketing Specialist, Alltech

Click below to listen to the Mycotoxin Matters podcast episode with Dr. Vivi Koletsi and Dr. Alex Yiannikouris, hosted by Martin Minchin, where they discuss the standout moments of the 14th World Mycotoxin Forum. As a silver sponsor, Alltech played a significant role with five posters and cutting-edge perspectives on mycotoxin control. Delve into discussions covering crucial topics like transforming data utilization, the EU’s ongoing assessment of mycotoxin regulations, and much more. 

You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also find an edited transcript at the bottom of this page. 

The 14th edition of the World Mycotoxin Forum recently took place in Antwerp, Belgium, attracting global leaders from various sectors of the industry. The event served as a platform for in-depth discussions on integrated strategies aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the food and feed supply chain. With over 400 attendees representing 42 countries, participants from the food and feed industries, academia, and government and regulatory bodies came together to exchange insights and advancements in comprehending and addressing the challenges posed by these contaminants.

Alltech, a silver sponsor for the forum, continued its tradition of active participation, with our Alltech® Mycotoxin Management experts engaging in discussions on the latest industry developments. The team showcased our recent research through five poster presentations, while Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris, Alltech’s research group director, shared notable program advancements on the main stage.

 

Key areas of research

Alltech contributed significantly this year, with presentations covering a range of topics.

1. Age-associated changes in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) deposition in the livers of growing pigs and broiler chickens – Dr. Alex Yiannikouris – This study on poultry and pigs explored the uptake and deposition of AFB1 in the liver over time. The findings indicated that mature animals exhibit more effective AFB1 metabolism and that the optimal time point for observing a significant accumulation of AFB1 in the livers of chickens and pigs is around two weeks.

2. Individual and combined effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) with other fusarium mycotoxins on rainbow trout growth performance and health – Dr. Vivi Koletsi – Dr. Koletsi’s study revealed that exposure to deoxynivalenol (DON) and a toxin mix (FUmix) from Fusarium fungi had cumulative effects on rainbow trout, influencing growth, food efficiency and liver health.

4. In vitro detoxification characteristics of yeast cell wall extract (YCWE) towards emerging mycotoxins – Dr. Yiannikouris – Regarding mitigation, the in vitro study demonstrated the large-spectrum properties of YCWE toward the adsorption of multiple mycotoxins, including emerging mycotoxins.
5. Meta-analysis with meta-regression to assess the use of yeast cell wall extract (YCWE) supplementation on pig performance during mycotoxin challenges below or above regulatory guidelines – Dr. Yiannikouris – A meta-analysis conducted on pigs demonstrated the effectiveness of YCWE since its supplementation resulted in performance comparable to the level of unchallenged animals, particularly at mycotoxin levels commonly found below regulatory guidelines.
6. Feeding lactating dairy cows a grass silage, whether low or high in mycotoxins, with or without the addition of a binder, induces alterations in rumen metabolism over the short term – Jessica Webster – This ruminant study concluded that short-term feeding of spoiled grass silage high in mycotoxins increased the proportion of acetate to propionate in the rumen fluid of lactating dairy cows. Additionally, when lactating dairy cows were fed YCWE, there was an increase in butyrate concentration and a decrease in rumen pH.

Animal perspectives at WMF

A popular study from Norway explored the effects of emerging mycotoxins on salmon. Researchers at the Institute of Marine Research used enniatin B (ENNB) and beauvericin (BEA) in this study. The group that had been fed BEA became thinner despite eating more than the control group, while ENNB had a marked effect on length growth and certain blood parameters. One of the more interesting parts of this study was the group’s calculation of a safe limit for these two toxins. The safe limit they identified was lower than the common levels of BEA and ENNB that are found in commonly used aqua feeds.

In her study, Dr. Veronika Nagl asked the question of how far we have come in relation to the use of mycotoxin biomarkers for livestock species. Biomarkers have received a lot of attention in the mycotoxin category in recent years, and research in the area has intensified. Much of this interest is driven by the fact that diagnosis of mycotoxin-related disorders in a production setting remains a challenging task. Despite advances in the area of biomarkers, challenges remain, including the lack of reference values. Dr. Nagl’s take-home message centered on the analysis of feed still being the most powerful tool for detecting the exposure of animals to mycotoxins.

Ruminant-related research from Dr. Cameron Strachan at the University of Vienna highlighted the ability of mycotoxins to disrupt the ruminal microbiome and to be a potential contributing factor in lactate accumulation and acute ruminal acidosis.

Soil, fungi and plant interaction

The interaction between soil, fungi and plants was another key theme explored during a session at the 2023 World Mycotoxin Forum.

This session unveiled valuable insights, highlighting that mycotoxins can infiltrate soil through various pathways, such as animal manure or rainwater from contaminated fields. Dr. Katherine Muñoz from RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, presented findings suggesting that mycotoxins, specifically DON, not only occur naturally in soil but may also play a role in soil ecosystems. Her team’s research indicated an increase in DON levels correlated with nitrogen depletion, hinting at its involvement in processes related to soil nitrogen status. Moreover, they discovered the potential for DON degradation in soil, leading to the interesting question of what is degrading the DON and asking whether this could be worth exploring further as a solution to the challenge in the animal.

Dr. Ahmed El-Khatib from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment not only affirmed the presence of mycotoxins in soil but also demonstrated, for the first time, the in vivo uptake of Alternaria from the soil. This was achieved through a hydroponic system, providing insights into the distribution and modification of Alternaria in wheat plants.

Several speakers in this session leveraged poly-omics approaches as powerful tools to investigate fungal mycotoxin production. Additionally, discussions emphasized the shift in plant pathology from the traditional single-pathogen model to the more comprehensive pathobiome model. This approach recognizes the complexity of interactions among multiple pathogens, offering a potential avenue for controlling plant diseases.

Enabling successful use of data

Data, and more specifically artificial intelligence (AI), dominated many presentations and debates during this year’s WMF proceedings. However, many discussions also centered on the caveats that need to be attached to how we are utilizing the huge amounts of information that are now being generated across the feed and food chain.

One challenge highlighted during the International Society for Mycotoxicology (ISM) debate was the lack of sharing of data. Only 10% of surveyed participants are sharing data with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This has a direct influence on EFSA’s ability to direct and develop risk assessment and policy guidelines. In addition to data sharing, the quality of data also remains a large issue, and Dr. Chiara Dall’Asta from the University of Parma shared a somewhat humorous take on this with her presentation on the misclassification of data from Chicken Tikka Masala meals. When investigated, the mycotoxins were present in the herbs rather than the actual chicken.

While recognizing the caveats, making better use of data also presents some really significant opportunities when it comes to understanding and combatting mycotoxins. A snapshot of these opportunities included:

• Mycotoxin prediction: Many different parties are now working on models to enable the more accurate prediction of mycotoxins pre-harvest.
• Toxicity assessment: Machine learning and AI are being used to model the potential toxicological potential of particular mycotoxins based on their chemical structures.
• Evaluating mitigation strategies: AI can be used to understand the absorption efficacy of different types of inorganic binders, based on their chemical characteristics and structural functions, enabling a more targeted, mycotoxin-specific approach.
• Mycotoxin detection: This opportunity uses AI in a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) approach, screening a wide variety of mycotoxin panels without having to use any standards.

The ongoing regulatory discussions

The regulatory debate is a mainstay of the World Mycotoxin Forum agenda, and with many of these discussions being centered in Europe, it was up to Frans Verstraete, administrator of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, to lead the conversation on this topic.

When it comes to individual mycotoxins — apart from aflatoxin, which is regulated — many of the rules are set as guidelines in food and feed. The notable shift in this area is the possible movement from guideline limits to something that would be more enforceable, alongside a lowering of some of those guideline limits. Discussions are already underway in that regard, particularly with deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A. Such changes do not come without consequences, and this is why Verstraete acknowledges the delicate balancing act when it comes to mycotoxins. Policymakers have to ensure the protection of animal and human health while also looking at food security and nutritional availability.

One of the more interesting points raised in this session was the possible introduction of a two-tier framework for animal feeds. Higher mycotoxin levels might be permitted where nutritional solutions such as binders or deactivators are included in the finished feed. This framework is yet to be implemented and will be undergoing further consideration.

The mycotoxin challenge remains complex, and despite the huge amount of work that is being undertaken to better understand the challenge and the subsequent response across the feed and food chain, many questions remain unanswered. The next World Mycotoxin Forum is set to be held in April 2025, and no doubt there will be many exciting new areas of research to share.