Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Livestock Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/livsci Efcacy of a multicomponent mycotoxin detoxifying agent on concurrent exposure to zearalenone and T-2 mycotoxin in weaned pigs Jog Raj a, ⁎ , Marko Vasiljević a , Panagiotis Tassis b , Hunor Farkaš a , Klaus Männer c a Patent Co, DOO., Vlade Ćetkovića 1A, Mišićevo 24211, Serbia b Farm Animals Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54627, Greece c Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany ARTICLEINFO Keywords: Pigs Mycotoxins Zearalenone T-2 toxin Adsorbent Feed ABSTRACT The aim of the present in vivo study was to evaluate the efcacy of a novel multicomponent mycotoxin de- toxifying agent, as mineral premix consisting of modifed zeolite, Bacillus spp., yeast cell wall and silymarin (MMDA; Patent Co, Misicevo, Serbia), in-feed to adsorb mycotoxins zearalenone (ZEN) and T-2, administered through feed in weaned pigs. In total, 112 post-weaning barrows and gilts (Danbred x Piétrain) from the 25th dayofage(day0ofthetrial)until66thdayofage(endoftrial)wereallocatedinfourtrialgroups.Eachgroup consistedof28pigsplacedinsevenpens(replicates)withfouranimalsineachpen.GroupG1servedascontrol groupthatreceivedfeedwithoutanymycotoxinsorMMDA;GroupG2receivedfeedwithspikedcornandwheat reachingcontaminationlevelsof0.35mgZEN/kgand0.5mgT2/kgfeed.GroupG3receivedcontaminatedfeed (similar contamination levels with G2 group) with the additions of 1 g MMDA/kg, whereas G4 group received alsocontaminatedfeed(similarcontaminationlevelswithG2group)withtheadditionof3gMMDA/kg.Growth performance (body weight, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio), as well as hematological and serum biochemical parameters, fecal scoring, gross pathology, and mycotoxins residue levels in liver, spleen, kidneys andmuscletissuewereassessed.ResultssuggestedthatinclusionofMMDAintrialdietsinduceddose-dependent reduction of genital organs (sum of ovaries, cornu uteri and vagina-vestibule) relative weight and vulva size, whichhadbeenincreasedduetoZENingestioninG2group.Additionally,inbothgroupsthatreceivedMMDA, signifcantly reduced residue levels of ZEN in liver and kidney samples were observed, in comparison with G2 group.SignifcantresiduelevelsreductionofT-2/HT-2toxinswasalsoobservedinkidneysamplesofMMDA-fed groupswhencomparedwithG2group.TakentogetherMMDAaddedtodietscontainingZENandT-2toxinhasa dose dependent afnity for ZEN and to a lower extend for T2 toxin, whereas such efect seems greater at in- clusion level of 3 g MMDA/kg feed. 1. Introduction Mycotoxinsastoxicsecondarymetabolitesproducedbyflamentous fungi, can cause illness and lethality in domestic animals fed moldy feedstufs at a global scale. . According to recent surveys 30–100% of food and feed worldwide are contaminated with mycotoxins, thus co- contamination of pig feed with more than one mycotoxin seems very probable (; Palumbo et al., 2020). Among numerous mycotoxins (over 400), zearalenone (ZEN) and T-2/HT-2 are suggested as important to swineandtheEuropeanCommission(EC)hasrecommendedmaximum concentration levels of ZEN (0.1 mg ZEN/kg feed for piglets and gilts; 0.25mgZEN/kgfeedforsowsandfatteningpigs)andT-2(0.25mgHT- 2 and T-2 as sum/kg compound feed) in swine feed (EC, 2006, 2013). ZEN is a phenolic resorcylic acid lactone mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, in grains. ZEN acts by binding estrogen receptors (ERs), with a stronger afnity to ER-a compared to ER-b. Briefy, ZEN metabolic pathway after consumption of contaminated feed includes rapid absorption from the intestine and extensive liver phase I and II biotransformations. Phase I metabolism results in α- and β- zearalenol, α-andβ-zearalanolandzearalanone.Thea-zearalenolisthemainform observed in swine, that presents oestrogenic potency greater than the parental toxin. Phase II includes glucuronidation of ZEN and phase I reduced forms, towards polar forms which lack oestrogenic potency. Glucuronidesfurtherundergobiliaryorurinaryexcretion(Dänickeand Winkler, 2015; EFSA 2017a). Prepubertal gilts are the most susceptible age group to ZEN in- toxication (EFSA, 2017a).ZENandit'smetabolitesareabletoinducea hyperoestrogenism syndrome with typical signs such as edema of the https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104295 Received 26 April 2020; Received in revised form 1 September 2020; Accepted 7 October 2020 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: jog.raj@patent-co.com (J. Raj). Livestock Science 242 (2020) 104295 Available online 08 October 2020 1871-1413/ © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. T