Mycotoxicosis

 

Mycotoxin

Source

Toxic level

Effect

Aflatoxin

Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus parasiticus

>0.2 ppm

Hepatitis. Reduced growth

Reduced feed intake

Immunosuppression

Deoxynivalenol

DON Vomitoxin

Fusaria

>5 ppm

Reduced feed consumption

Ergot

Claviceps purpurea

>1000 ppm

Reduced feed intake

Agalactia

Gangrene

Fumonisins

Fusarium moniliforme

Fusarium proliferatum

>25 ppm

Liver dysfunction

Pulmonary oedema

Ochratoxin

Citrinin

Aspergillus ochraceus

Penicillium viridicatum

Penicillin citrinum

>0.2 ppm

Renal lesions

Immunosuppression

Tichothecenes

T-2 Toxin

DAS

Fusaria

>3 ppm

Decreased feed intake

Immuosuppression

Zearalenone

Fusarium graminearum

>1 ppm

Oestrogenic

Pseudopregnancy

Enlarged vulva weaners

Plant toxins – there are numerous possibilities in poisonous plants

Gossypol

Cottonseed

>200 ppm

Reduced feed intake

 

1 ppm = 1 mg/kg           1 ppb = 0.001 mg/kg or 1 µg/kg

 

Examples of some mycotoxins

 

Ergot in wheat

Feed mycotoxins ca 1 zeralenone

Ergot

Fusarium on maize – Zearaleone 10 ppm

Feed examination whole grain

 

Feed contaminated with cottonseed – gossypol

 

 

 

If I exposed my pregnant sows or gilts to some mycotoxins and some of their foetuses died – how big would they be at farrowing?