Editorial: Predicting, managing, and minimizing mycotoxicosis in farm animals

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites with toxic properties that significantly threaten human 15 and animal health. Over 500 distinct mycotoxins have been identified and chemically characterized, 16primarily from three genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. When ingested, mycotoxins can 17 lead to a range of health issues depending on the specific mycotoxin, exposure level and time. Thus, 18 mycotoxicosis is a toxic condition that occurs when animals or humans ingest or inhale fungal toxins. 19In the poultry industry, this condition can adversely affect animal health and productivity, resulting in 20 reduced growth rate, impaired feed efficiency, immune suppression, reproductive disorders, organ 21 damage, and in extreme cases, death. 22The need to predict, manage, and minimize mycotoxicosis is crucial in various sectors, including 23 agriculture, food safety, and veterinary medicine. By harnessing these recent advances and focusing 24 on comprehensive preventive measures such as accurate detection, predictive modeling, detoxification, 25 and nutritional strategies, we can effectively combat mycotoxicosis, safeguard animal health, and 26 ensure the production of safe and nutritious food for human consumption. Thus, promising approaches 27 to reduce mycotoxin levels in animal feed and improve overall safety include using adsorbent materials 28 (organic, inorganic, and hybrid), enzymatic treatments, and biological agents among others. 29In this context, Gómez-Osorio et al. (2024) reviewed the relationship between mycotoxins and 30 coccidiosis in poultry, emphasizing their co-occurrence and interaction as well as their effects on 31 poultry health and productivity. This review underlines the need for effective management strategies 32 to mitigate the combined risks of mycotoxins and coccidiosis and advocates for a holistic approach 33 that should also include the following aspects: rigorous feed management, disease prevention 34 measures, and regular monitoring to maintain the health and productivity of poultry against these 35 significant challenges. Moreover, Kappari et al. (2024) summarized current research on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in 37 certain farm animal diseases, including mycotoxicosis. Through a critical literature review, the authors 38 focused on the impact of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of viral and bacterial infections and 39 mycotoxicosis. Overall, the review highlighted the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for early disease 40 detection and intervention, which could significantly benefit farm animal health and improve 41 productivity. 42 Furthermore, Maguey-Gonzalez et al. ( 2023) evaluated the efficacy of humic acids derived from worm 43 compost in counteracting the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in young turkey poults. This study 44 presents a practical approach to the utilization of non-nutritive adsorbent materials, which can 45 effectively bind AFB1 and inhibit its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby minimizing the 46 toxic impact on poultry and decreasing the risk of this fungal metabolite entering poultry products such 47 as meat and eggs. The findings of this research suggest that humic acids could serve as a valuable 48 natural additive to tackle mycotoxin-related challenges in poultry production by improving overall 49 productivity and health. 502The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial 52 relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. 53