Efficacy of mycotoxin deactivator on broilers exposed to subclinical doses of fumonisins and deoxynivalenol

Authors: DASIREDDY, JOSEPH - University Of Georgia; KAPPARI, LAHARIKA - University Of Georgia; PENDER, CHASITY - Dsm; DOUPOVEC, BARBARA - Dsm; SELVARAJ, RAMESH - University Of Georgia; APPLEGATE, TODD - University Of Georgia; Shanmugasundaram, Revathi

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2026
Publication Date: 3/28/2026
Citation: Dasireddy, J.R., Kappari, L., Pender, C., Doupovec, B., Selvaraj, R.K., Applegate, T.J., Shanmugasundaram, R. 2026. Efficacy of mycotoxin deactivator on broilers exposed to subclinical doses of fumonisins and deoxynivalenol. Poultry Science. Volume 105, Issue 6 p.106843.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106843.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106843

Interpretive Summary: Poultry feed in the U.S and worldwide is often contaminated with multiple mycotoxins, such as fumonisins and deoxynivalenol. Mycotoxins are toxins produced by fungi that grow on corn and other grains. Presence of multiple mycotoxins even at low levels in the poultry feed ingredients causes damage to the chicken's gut, weakens its immune system, and reduces overall productivity, leading to economic losses for farmers. Because these mycotoxins frequently occur together, traditional binders alone are not always effective, creating a need for better strategies to protect birds and maintain food safety. We evaluated a commercial mycotoxin deactivator designed to neutralize fumonisins and deoxynivalenol added to broiler feed to determine whether it could lessen the harmful effects of the most common toxins found in poultry feed. In our study, broiler chickens were fed low levels of these toxins for 35 days with or without mycotoxin deactivator added to their feed. The deactivator protected the chickens' intestinal health, improved their immune response, and reduced toxin-related tissue damage compared to mycotoxin exposed birds . This research demonstrates that using a mycotoxin deactivator in poultry feed provides meaningful protection for chickens raised on feed that may be naturally contaminated with mycotoxins. This has direct benefits for poultry producers, improves feed efficiency, and supports a safer and more reliable food supply. The findings also advance scientific understanding of how multicomponent detoxifiers can reduce the negative impacts of multiple mycotoxins, helping guide future strategies for feed safety in commercial poultry production.

Technical Abstract: Poultry feed is frequently co-contaminated with multiple mycotoxins; thus, alternative mitigation strategies are required in addition to conventional binders. Multicomponent approaches combining binders, microbes, and enzymes offer broader protection and improve gut health and immunity in broilers. Hence, this study focuses on the impact of a mycotoxin deactivator (Biofix Select® with FUMzyme®) on production performance, antioxidant activity, immune response, and cecal microbiota of broilers when exposed to fumonisin (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON). A total of 360 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were allocated in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with six replicates (n=6). The treatments were Control, FUM + DON (8.5 mg FUM + 3.9 mg DON per kg of feed), Mycotoxin (MTX) Deactivator (0.1% Biofix Select® with FUMzyme®), and FUM + DON + MTX Deactivator (0.1% Biofix Select® with FUMzyme®). The data was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. There were no interaction effects between FUM + DON and MTX Deactivator on the production performance throughout the study. However, on d21, significant interactions were seen between FUM + DON and MTX Deactivator supplementation on jejunal villus length and crypt depth, as well as in ileal villus length (p < 0.05), where MTX Deactivator reversed the FUM + DON-induced reductions in the villus length and crypt depth in the birds. On d35, significant interaction effects were found between FUM + DON and MTX Deactivator supplementation on jejunal occludin (OCC) mRNA expression, where MTX Deactivator reversed FUM + DON-induced downregulation of OCC (p < 0.05). Similarly, on d35, significant interactions were observed between FUM + DON and MTX Deactivator supplementation on cecal tonsil and spleen CD8+ T cell percentages and CD8+:CD4+ T cell ratios (p < 0.05), where MTX Deactivator negated the FUM + DON-induced immunosuppression. Additionally, significant interaction was seen in spleen TGF-ß mRNA expression, where MTX Deactivator downregulated the spleen TGF-ß mRNA expression in birds exposed to FUM + DON (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the MTX Deactivator at 0.1% alleviated physiological and immunological adverse effects of chronic exposure to subclinical doses of FUM + DON in broilers.. Key words: Mycotoxin deactivator, Fumonisin, Deoxynivalenol, Broilers, FUMzyme®