Effects and biotransformation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in growing pigs fed with naturally contaminated pelleted grains with and without the addition of <i>Coriobacteriaceum</i> DSM 11798

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins in grain and can cause economic losses in pig farming due to reduced feed consumption and lower weight gains. Biodetoxification of mycotoxins using bacterial strains has been a focus of research for many years. However, only a few <i>in vivo</i> studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of microbial detoxification of fusariotoxins. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the effect of a feed additive containing the bacterial strain <i>Coriobacteriaceum</i> DSM 11798 (the active ingredient in <i>Biomin</i>® BBSH 797) on growth performance and blood parameters, as well as uptake and metabolism of DON, in growing pigs. Forty-eight crossbred (Landrace-Yorkshire/Duroc-Duroc) weaning pigs were fed with pelleted feed made from naturally contaminated oats, with DON at four concentration levels: (1) control diet (DON −1), (2) low-contaminated diet (DON = 0.92 mg kg⁻¹), (3) medium-contaminated diet (DON = 2.2 mg kg⁻¹) and (4) high-contaminated diet (DON = 5.0 mg kg⁻¹) and equivalent diets containing DSM 11798 as feed additive. During the first 7 days of exposure, pigs in the highest-dose group showed a 20–28% reduction in feed intake and a 24–34% reduction in weight gain compared with pigs in the control and low-dose groups. These differences were levelled out by study completion. Towards the end of the experiment, dose-dependent reductions in serum albumin, globulin and total serum protein were noted in the groups fed with DON-contaminated feed compared with the controls. The addition of DSM 11798 had no effect on the DON-related clinical effects or on the plasma concentrations of DON. The ineffectiveness of the feed additive in the present study could be a consequence of its use in pelleted feed, which might have hindered its rapid release, accessibility or detoxification efficiency in the pig’s gastrointestinal tract.