Bioconversion of Deoxynivalenol-Contaminated Feed by Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Larvae in the Production of Biomass Intended for Feed Purposes

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a prevalent mycotoxin in feed, raising concerns about its impact on animal health and feed safety. Insects such as yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) may play a role in the biodegradation of DON-contaminated feed. This study presents the results of a two-week rearing experiment, where 19-week-old yellow mealworm larvae were fed diets with varying concentrations of DON. The larvae were divided into three groups (C, A, and B) that differed in the amount of mycotoxin added to the feed. Larval survival, body mass, and DON accumulation in larvae and their frass were evaluated. A statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in larval survival or body mass gain between the groups. The results point to the low accumulation of DON in larvae, reaching 13.13 ± 2.06 µg/kg (A) and 32.18 ± 4.20 µg/kg (B) after two weeks of feeding. Moreover, at the end of the experiment, DON was detected in larval frass at high concentrations of 507.65 ± 15.31 µg/kg (A) and 862.61 ± 18.53 µg/kg (B), suggesting that larvae are capable of effectively excreting this mycotoxin. The analyzed mycotoxin had no significant effect on larval survival or growth. Deoxynivalenol did not accumulate in the larval biomass and was excreted with frass. These findings enhance our understanding of the interactions between DON and yellow mealworm larvae and have potential implications for using insects in feed production and mycotoxin neutralization within ecosystems. Tenebrio molitor larvae tolerate DON-contaminated feed and effectively excrete the toxin, making them potential candidates for feed detoxification systems.