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A mycotoxicosis is a disease caused by a
toxic metabolite of fungi (mycotoxin).
Hundreds of mycotoxins are recognized, but
the toxicity, occurrence, and target organs
are varied among these naturally occurring
toxins.
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Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic
mycotoxins produced by A. flavus, A.
parasiticus, and Penicillium puberulum.
◦ Hepatotoxicity is the primary effect in nearly all
animals.
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Ergotism is caused by Claviceps spp., which
attack cereal grains.
◦ Ergotism is characterized by vascular, neurologic,
and endocrine disorders.
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Moniliformin is produced by Fusarium
moniliforme and other Fusarium spp.
◦ Cardiotoxic and nephrotoxic in poultry.
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Ochratoxins are among the most toxic
mycotoxins to poultry. These nephrotoxic
metabolites are produced chiefly by
Penicillium viridicatum and Aspergillus
ochraceous.
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Diagnosis of a mycotoxicosis begins with the
assessment of the clinical history and signs.
A definitive diagnosis of mycotoxicosis
involves identification and quantification of
specific toxins.
Analytic techniques for mycotoxins include
chromatography (thin-layer, gas, liquid),
mass spectrometry, and monoclonal
antibody-based technology.
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Toxic feed should be removed and replaced
with unadulterated feed.
Increasing the crude protein, dietary energy,
and vitamin supplementation can counteract
the effects of aflatoxin.
Substandard management practices are
especially detrimental to poultry stressed by
mycotoxins and should be corrected.
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Feed Manufacturing and Management
Antifungal Agents
◦ Organic acids
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Detoxification with Adsorbents
◦ Inorganic mineral adsorbents or binders including
various clays, soils, and zeolites
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Poisons are not major causes of production
loss or disease in poultry in most countries,
although some, such as lead, pesticides, and
botulism, are significant in wild birds.
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Poisoning occurs more frequently in freerange and backyard flocks and in village
poultry where birds forage in neighboring
gardens and fields or receive household
waste and weeds cut from roadsides and
fields.
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Most reports of poisoning with
chemotherapeutic agents involve
inappropriate use or overdose of
anticoccidials or growth promotants.
Sulfonamides were used as the primary
form of prevention and treatment for
coccidiosis.
Difficult to mix evenly in feed, and they
have low solubility in acidic water.
Hemorrhagic syndrome.
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In adults, there is a marked decrease in egg
production and shell quality; brown eggs may
be depigmented
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After subcutaneous injection, gentamicin
causes depression in turkey poults, edema
and hemorrhages at the injection site, and
large, pale, and nephrotic kidneys
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All anthelmintics are probably toxic if a
sufficient overdose is given, but generally
birds are more resistant than mammals to
anthelmintics.
Levamisole, tetramisole and Ivermectin
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Arsenic: Toxic effects include diarrhea,
nervous signs, and cyanosis. There is
inflammation of the digestive tract including
crop, proventriculus, and gizzard, hepatosis,
and nephrosis.
Lead: Clinical disease usually is seen as
wasting, ataxia, lameness or paralysis, and
anemia.
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Vitamin A: Excess vitamin A reduces egg
production and growth rate and causes
osteodystrophy and osteoporosis.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): kidney failure
occur in chicks.
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Fumigants are products producing toxic
gases used to control rodents, insects, fungi,
and bacteria. They can cause toxicity when
inhaled or ingested. Phenolic disinfectants
can be toxic when inhaled or absorbed
through skin.