Ochratoxin A: Carryover from animal feed into livestock and the mitigation strategies

This review aims to highlight the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the feed of meat-producing animals. The accumulation of OTA in feed and its distribution in various farm animals were compared and evaluated. Primarily, the oral administration of OTA-contaminated feed and the predisposition in an animal's vital organ were critically examined in this work. The collated reports show that OTA directly associated with endemic nephropathy and its high concentration leads to degeneration of liver cells, and necrosis of intestinal and lymphoid tissues. At present, limited reports are available in the recent literature on the problems and consequences of OTA in feed. Therefore, this review focused on the OTA carryover from feed to farm animals and the interaction of its secondary metabolites on their biochemical parameters. Hence, this report provides greater insights into animal health related to OTA residues in meat and meat products. This article also explores mitigation strategies that can be used to prevent the carryover effects of OTA in livestock feeds and the effects in the food chain.