New bolus models for in vivo efficacy testing of mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in relation to EFSA guidelines, assessed using deoxynivalenol in broiler chickens

Abstract

In this study, three new models were developed for efficacy testing of mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in relation to recent European guidelines. In the first model, deoxynivalenol was given to broiler chickens as an intra-crop bolus together with a mycotoxin-detoxifying agent in order to study the plasma concentration–time profile of deoxynivalenol. In the second model, the same oral bolus was given, preceded by an oral bolus of mycotoxin-detoxifying agent, to make sure the detoxifying agent was present in the whole intestinal tract when the mycotoxin was administered. In the third model, the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent was mixed in the feed of broiler chickens, and after 1 week's feeding, deoxynivalenol was given as an oral bolus. In order to evaluate the efficacy of these agents, plasma concentration–time profiles were set up and the main toxicokinetic parameters were compared. Two commercially available mycotoxin-detoxifying agents were tested, but they were not able to lower the oral availability of deoxynivalenol. As a positive control, activated carbon was used. We showed that activated carbon significantly reduces the absorption and oral availability of deoxynivalenol in all three models. Therefore, it can be concluded that these models are able to demonstrate the efficacy of mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in relation to European Food Safety Authority guidelines.

Keywords:

• mycotoxins
• deoxynivalenol
• efficacy testing
• mycotoxin-detoxifying agent
• modelling
• legal assessment

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT, Brussels, Belgium) for its financial support (SB grant No. 101301). The technical assistance of A. Van den Bussche and J. Lambrecht is gratefully acknowledged.