On the specific and unspecific effects of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent on piglets when fed with uncontaminated or with Fusarium toxins contaminated diets

A 35-day feeding experiment was performed with weaned piglets (initial live weight of 7.7 +/- 1 kg) to test the effects of a Fusarium toxin contamination of the diet (4.44 mg deoxynivalenol [DON] per kg diet) compared to an uncontaminated control diet. Both diet types were fed either unsupplemented or supplemented with a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) to examine the claimed efficacy of detoxification of this feed additive through unspecific performance parameters and the specific proof of the prevention of DON absorption. Feeding of the mycotoxin-contaminated diets resulted in a decrease in feed intake and live weight gain by 28% and 14% when compared to the control group. These effects were independent of GMA addition. Based on the lack of significant interactions between diet mycotoxin-contamination and GMA supplementation for the performance data, and because of the inefficiency of GMA in decreasing DON absorption, it was concluded that the supplementation of DON-contaminated piglet diets with GMA cannot be recommended as an effective tool for alleviation of adverse DON effects.