Mycotoxins in Pig Feed: Health Risks, Reproductive Impacts, and Diagnostic Innovations

The contamination of pig feed by mycotoxins is a worldwide issue of concern for the pig industry. Due to recent ongoing climate changes and the globalization of intensive swine production, contamination levels in cereals are increasing. Mycotoxins and their effects pose a significant threat to swine health, productivity, and reproduction. Current research suggests that their occurrence in pig feed can significantly reduce productivity traits, impair growth, and negatively affect the function and histological structure of multiple organs and systems. Considering that the concurrent consumption of more than one mycotoxin is the rule rather than the exception, data clarifying mycotoxins interactions in swine are becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, recent data suggest that reproductive parameters and the fertility of the breeding stock can be heavily affected by mycotoxins. While some progress has been made in understanding these impacts, there remains a significant gap in knowledge, particularly regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action and the role of mycotoxins as predisposing factors to other diseases and disorders in pigs.

This research topic aims to clarify the extent of the mycotoxins menace, ingested either alone or in combination, on swine health aspects either as direct or indirect toxic agents, through the presentation of beyond state-of-the-art knowledge. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate the issue of mycotoxins as predisposing factors to several other diseases and disorders of pigs, which is still not fully revealed. The research will also focus on determining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action for each mycotoxin alone or in interaction with other mycotoxins or pathogens. Field investigations of mycotoxins and diagnostic tools are becoming even more important in an era of intensive production and differentiating climatic conditions on a global scale.

To gather further insights into the effects of mycotoxins on swine health, productivity, and reproduction, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Effects of mycotoxins on specific systems, organs, and cell lines related to swine health and reproduction
- Novel diagnostic techniques for detecting mycotoxins in swine feed and tissues
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms of mycotoxin action, both alone and in combination with other mycotoxins or pathogens
- Field investigations and epidemiological studies on mycotoxin contamination in swine production
- Novel treatment, counteracting, and prevention measures for mycotoxin exposure in pigs
- Impact of mycotoxins on reproductive parameters and fertility in sows, boars, and their offspring
- Interaction of mycotoxins with other environmental and management factors affecting swine health and productivity

Keywords: Mycotoxins, swine, health, reproduction, pigs, sows, boars, toxicosis

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.