Getting A Perspective on Mycotoxicoses in Poultry
The disease caused by the natural toxin produced by the fungus family in animals and poultry is called mycotoxicosis. In poultry, it is commonly spread through mycotoxins in feed i.e. infected grain. Hundreds of pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic mycotoxins have been identified. They predominantly cause additive or synergistic effects sometimes combined with other infectious agents, natural toxins as well as nutritional deficiencies. These toxins are chemically highly and retain their toxicity over a long period of time.
Mycotoxin problems in poultry are significant and insidious. The impact is measured against parameters such as weight gain, pigmentation, feed efficiency, egg production rate as well as reproductive performance. Let us look below at some of the major mycotoxicosis.
Aflatoxicosis
These are the toxic and carcinogenic metabolites of Aspergillus flavus, parasiticus and other fungi. This fungi group mostly affects the liver of the poultry though can sometimes impact on the digestive, immunologic as well as hematopoietic functions. They have a large negative impact on feed intake and weight gain, pigmentation, egg production, processing yield, male and female fertility. Some are a direct manifestation of the toxins while some are indirect like reduced feed intake. Various species show different susceptibility levels to the toxins. Turkeys, ducklings and pheasants show maximum susceptibility while Japanese quail, chickens and guinea fowl show a good degree of resistance. Their symptoms may range from being generally unwell to high morbidity and mortality. Lesions can be spotted in the liver which may be reddish due to necrosis and congestion or yellow due to lipid accumulation. Hemorrhages may also take place. In chronic cases, the liver becomes yellow to gray and atrophied. These toxins are carcinogenic but tumor formation happens very rarely mainly because the birds die early.
Fusariotoxicosis
Caused by the genus Fusarium, these are fairly injurious to poultry. These trichothecene mycotoxins are known to produce caustic and radiomimetic patterns of disease as seen in T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Mycotoxins like Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin, DON) and zearalenone do not have much effect on poultry but can impact pigs in a big way.
In Poultry, it is caused due to the trichothecenes results in feed refusal, acute digestive disease, caustic injury to oral mucosa and areas of skin which had been in physical contact with the mold as well as injury to the bone marrow and immune system. Other symptoms manifested are necrosis and ulceration of the oral mucosa, mottling of the liver, reddening of the GI mucosa, atrophy of the spleen and other lymphoid organs as well as visceral hemorrhages. Laying hens show decreased egg production along with depression, recumbency, feed refusal and various other symptoms. Ducks, geese and gizzards are particularly prone to it. Some of these genre mycotoxins can cause defective growth of long bones.
All kinds of preventive measures, removal of toxic feeds and proper treatment of the infected poultry are some of the ways to get this epidemic under control and should be looked into for better profitability and health.
About the Author
Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of people, animals and plants through natural nutrition and scientific innovation. Its mission is carried out by more than 4,200 team members who adhere to the company’s guiding ACE principle seeking the benefit of Animals, Consumers and the Environment in all endeavours. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world, doing business in 128 countries
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