This article will primarily be of interest to breeders of parrots and other birds. However, the question of the negative impact of mycotoxins on living organisms concerns everyone who is engaged in any type of animal husbandry, for everyone who keeps pets.
Mycotoxin control is carried out at the state level in more than 125 countries. In the post-Soviet space, at least several toxicogenic molds are very common, which provoke various diseases.
If you are feeding your bird or animals grain, you should know that:
- at least 90% of all examined grain was infected with Fusarium;
- in about the same volume, cereals often infect Aspergillus fungi, leaving aflatoxin in the product after their vital activity;
- at least 60% of grain, wheat, corn and barley are affected by aspergillus fungi;
- well, the main toxin-forming fungus is Alternaria, it infects almost all cereals.
Mold fungi, in addition to reducing the quality of feed (its nutritional properties), entering the animal’s body, cause various allergic reactions, reduce immunity, lead to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, provoke the development of various inflammatory processes and reduce the body’s resistance to parasite infection.
In agricultural livestock breeding, they are well aware of this and are quite successfully fighting this problem using adsorbents based on humic acids, since other types of adsorbents, with prolonged use, can themselves cause negative consequences.
Unfortunately, pet breeders know much less about this problem, although the issue of mycotoxins applies to them in the same way. That is why veterinarians often advise both for the prevention and for the treatment of various poisonings and diseases – to use feed additives based on humic acids.
Research on the effect of humic acids on mycotoxins
One of the many studies worth noting was carried out at the Polish Institute of Veterinary Medicine (PIVM), Pulawy. Repeated experiments have been carried out on the effect of humic acids on mycotoxins in feed. Conditions were created that mimic the digestion of an animal in the stomach and intestines, namely:
- the necessary acid-base environment was created: pH – 3.5-7.3;
- temperature – 370C;
- exhibited in time equal to the digestive process – from one to three hours.
Results of studies of humic acids at PIVM
Sorption of mycotoxins was:
- aflatoxin B1 – 99%;
- fumonisin B1 – 97%;
- fumonisin B2 – 96%;
- ochratoxin A – 98%
- T-2 toxin – 64%;
- zearalenone – 99%.
This, as well as many other studies, have repeatedly proven undeniable effectiveness in the fight against mycotoxins. In practice, veterinary associations have recorded a significant positive effect on animal health from the use of leonardite-based feed additives with humic acids.