Concentration and prevalence of mycotoxins in poultry feed and poultry products: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that commonly contaminate animal feed, especially poultry feed, impacting poultry productivity and causing adverse effects on animal health. Ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, aflatoxins, zearalenone, and trichothecene are of particular concern due to their high toxicity, prevalence, and potential to accumulate as residues in animal-derived foods, such as offal, muscle tissues, and eggs. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the occurrence, prevalence, and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in poultry feed and feed ingredients worldwide, as well as in poultry products between 2015 and 2025, while highlighting the various toxic effects of mycotoxin contaminants on poultry health and the factors that promote mycotoxin production throughout the poultry feed chain. The results of 53 relevant scientific articles were meta-analyzed. Fumonisin B1 and deoxynivalenol were present in high concentrations and frequently detected in feed and poultry products. At the same time, aflatoxin B2, G2, and G1 were present in low concentrations and rarely detected in feed and poultry products. The highest concentration of mycotoxins in poultry feed was associated with deoxynivalenol at 642.29 µg/kg, with a higher prevalence of 60.54%. On the other hand, the concentration of deoxynivalenol residues in the kidney was the highest. The high levels of mycotoxin contamination observed highlight the urgent need to improve the management of poultry feed storage and to strengthen regular monitoring throughout the feed chain to protect poultry and also human health.