Feed toxin binders in poultry

Depending on their mode of action, these toxin binders may act by reducing the bioavailability of
the mycotoxins or by degrading them or transforming them into less toxic metabolites.

I. Adsorbing agents:

One of the strategies for reducing the exposure to mycotoxins is to decrease their bioavailability
by including various mycotoxin adsorbing agents in the compound feed, which leads to a reduction
of mycotoxin uptake as well as distribution to the blood and target organs. Adsorbing agents are
also called binding agents, adsorbents, and binders.

II. Bio transforming agents:

Another strategy is the degradation of mycotoxins into non-toxic metabolites by using bio
transforming agents such as bacteria/fungi or enzymes that catabolize the entire mycotoxin or
transform or cleave it to less or non-toxic compounds.

Substances which do not directly interact with mycotoxins, i.e. antioxidant agents, immune
stimulatory agents, can be used but are not considered as mycotoxin detoxifying agents. However,
we are aware that such compounds may be very efficient for reducing the toxicity of mycotoxins.

I). Mycotoxin-adsorbing agents:

Mycotoxin-adsorbing agents can be silica-based inorganic compounds or carbon-based organic

polymers. The inorganic adsorbing agents currently on the market include natural clay products
as well as synthetic polymers.

1) Alumino silicates: Within this group, there are 2 important subclasses: the phyllosilicate
subclass and the tectosilicate subclass. Phyllosilicates include bentonites, montmorillonites,
smectites, kaolinites, illites. The tectosilicates include zeolites.

A) Bentonites are adsorbing agents with a layered crystalline microstructure and variable
composition. Bentonites are generally impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite.
Due to their montmorillonite content, bentonites swell and form thixotropic gels
B) Montmorillonite is a layered silicate which adsorbs organic substances either on its
external surfaces or within its inter laminar spaces
 C) Zeolites are crystalline hydrated alumino silicates of alkali and alkaline-hearth cations
characterized by an infinite three-dimensional structure.
Zeolites have large pores that provide space for large cations such as sodium, potassium,
calcium. They are characterized by their ability to lose and absorb water and exchange
constituent cations without damage to the crystalline structure
D) HSCAS (Hydrated sodium calcium alumino silicate) is perhaps the most studied
mycotoxin-sequestering agent among the mineral clays. It is a naturally occurring and heat-
processed calcium montmorillonite that is commonly used as an anticaking additive in
animal feed.

2) Activated carbons: Activated carbon (AC) is a non-soluble powder formed by pyrolysis of

several organic compounds and manufactured by activation processes aimed at developing a
highly porous structure AC is known as one of the most effective and non-toxic group of
sorbents, the sequestrate properties of AC depend on many factors including pore size, surface
area, structure of the mycotoxin and doses. Super activated charcoal differs from AC in that the
particle size is reduced, thereby increasing surface area. The specific surface area of AC indeed
varies from 500 m²/g to 3500 m²/g for super activated charcoals

3) Yeast cell walls: Cell walls derived from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast are also used as
a dietary mycotoxin-adsorbing agent. The cell walls harboring polysaccharides, proteins and
lipids exhibit numerous different and easy accessible adsorption centers.

4) Bacteria: It has been suggested that cell wall peptidoglycans and polysaccharides are the two
most important elements responsible for binding by lactic acid bacteria

5) Micronized fibers: obtained from different plant materials such as cereals (wheat, barley, oat), pea
hulls, apple, bamboo, etc. They are constituted mainly of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin and can
be obtained in ultrafine (<100 μ) or less fine (>100μ) fractions

6) Polymers:
a) Cholestyramine: Cholestyramine is an insoluble, quaternary ammonium anion exchange
resins which strongly binds anionic compounds.
b) Poly vinyl poly pyrrolidone: It is a highly polar amphoteric polymer.

II) Mycotoxin-bio-transforming agents:

 Some microorganisms have the ability to degrade mycotoxins. Bio-transforming agents include
bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and enzymes.
Common toxins found in poultry feed

Molds Fusarium spp. Aspergillus spp. Penicillium spp.

Mycotoxins Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone, T-2 Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Ochratoxin, PR Toxin,
Toxin, Fumonisin, Moniliformin, Sterigmatocystin, Citrinin, Cyclopiazonic acid,
Diacetoxyscirpenol, Fusaric acid, Cyclopiazonoic acid, etc. etc.
etc
Classification of toxin binders

Adsorbing agents Bio-transforming agents

1. Alumino silicates 1. Bacteria

a. Bentonites a. Gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria
b. Montmorillonites Eubacterium (strain BBSH 797,)
c. Zeolite b. Gram-positive, aerobic bacteria
d. HSCAS (Hydrated Sodium Nocardia asteroids, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium
Calcium Alumino Silicate) strain DSM 44556T
2. Activated carbons Rhodococcus erythropolis, Curtobacterium sp. strain 114-2
3. Yeast cell walls c. Gram-negative, aerobic bacteria
4. Micronized fibers Flavobacterium aurantiacum (NRRL B-184),
5. Bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Alcaligenes
6. Polymers 2. Fungi
a. Cholestyramine a. Aspergillus
b. Poly vinyl poly pyrrolidone b. Eurotium herbariorum
c. Penicillium raistricki
d. Rhizopus sp.
e. Rhinocladiella atrovirens
3. Yeast
a. Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans
b. Phaffia rhodozyma
c. Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous isolates
4. Enzymes
 a. Protease A
b. Pancreatin
c. Carboxypeptidase A
d. Epoxidase
e. Lactonohydrolase

Commercially available toxin binders for poultry feed

Trade Pack
Manufacturer Active compound usage Targeted toxin
name size
Bio- Broad spectrum mycotoxin
Dipolar phyllosilicates
Bantox Venkys 1,25 kg 1-1.5 kg/ton binder and mold inhibitor,
with herbal extracts
plus Also binds pesticides
Aflatoxins, Fumonisins,

Toxifin Kemin Tecto silicates 1-1.5 kg/ton Trichotecene,Ergoalkaloids

Ochratoxins, Zearalenone

Polyvinylpolypyrrolid
one (pvpp),
Mannanoligosaccharid
US e (MOS), Activated
Broad spectrum mycotoxin
Curatox- Neospark 1,25 kg Charcoal, Organic 0.5-1 kg/Ton
binder and mold inhibitor
FS acids, Xenobiotic
metabolic
Accelerators,
Lipotropic factors
HSCAS, Activated Broad spectrum mycotoxin
Toximar
Virbac 5,25 kg Charcoal, MOS & 1-1.5 kg/Ton binder and immune
Forte
Na2SiO4 modulator
Natural Hydrated
Sodium Calcium Natural Broad spectrum
Toximar Virbac 5 kg 1-2 kg/Ton
Aluminum Silicates mycotoxin binder
(HSCAS)
  HSCAS and other
Aflatoxins, zearalenone,
ATB clays
Deoxynivalenol
Special Vetline 25 kg  MOS 1kg/Ton
Ochratoxin and also
 Activated Charcoal
prevents mould growth
 Organic Acids
 HSCAS and
phyllosilicates
 MOS
ATB Broad spectrum mycotoxin
Vetline 25 kg  Activated Charcoal 1-2 kg/Ton
Bioplus binder and mold inhibitor
 Organic Acids,
Surfactants &
Photogenic derivatives
 MOS, Phytogenic
Toxiroak lipotropic compounds, 0.75-1.25 Broad spectrum mycotoxin
Ayurvet 25 kg
Gold elemental copper kg/ton binder


 HSCAS, Herbal
extracts Aflatoxins, Fumonisins,
Toxcure Vita industries  MOS
1,25 kg 1 kg/ton Ochratoxins, Zearalenone
 Activated Charcoal and mold inhibitor
 Organic Acids