MYCOTOXINS IN FEED AND THEIR EFFECTS ON

BROILER

Despite great efforts and preventive measures, mould contamination and subsequent mycotoxin production remains an ever-present natural threat to the safe use of grains and feed for poultry.

Introduction500 known mycotoxins

Secondary Metabolites

Carcinogenic in nature

ImmunosuppressiveFAO---25% of Total Grains infected with Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins

A diverse family of chemical substances produced by moulds that are toxic to poultry.

Mycotoxins

Each mycotoxin is chemically distinct and has unique effects upon the animal / bird ingesting the mycotoxin, causing unique signs and lesions.

Mycotoxicoses

Intoxications results from consumption of one or more poisons of fungal origin. These fungal poisons collectively referred as mycotoxins.

Affect of Mycotoxins Depends :

Nature of toxinsConcentrationDuration of exposureAge of the flockNutritional StatusStress factors in the flock

Conditions Favoring Fungus Production

Temperature 25 oC plus Relative Humidity 60 % plus Grain moisture 13 % plus Delayed harvest time

Conditions Favoring Fungus Production

Sub standard storage conditions

Long Storage duration

Damaged grains contamination

Presence of insects

Azziz-Baumgartner E, Lindblade k, Gieseker K, Rogers HS, Kieszak S, Njapau H,S chleicher, R, McCoy LF, Misore A DeCock K, Rubin C, Slutsker L, and the Aflatoxin Investigative Group ( 2005). Case-Control Study of an Acute Aflatoxicosis outbreak, Kenya, 2004. Environ Health Perspect. 113: 1779-1783.

Mycotoxin Target OrganAflatoxin LIVER

Ochratoxin A KIDNEY

Trichothecenes MUCOSA

Ergot Alkaloids Peripheral Vascular System

Zearalenne URO-GENITAL Tract

Mycotoxins Produce Readily

Feedstuff Derived from: Corn Cottonseed Sunflower Rice Polishing

Minimizing Mycotoxin Production

Harvest at maturity at minimum grain damage

Dry grain at 15% moisture as rapidly as possibleThoroughly clean the grain and bins before storageStore in water, insect and rodent tight structuresContinue periodic aeration and probing for “hot spots”.Use propionic acid

Natural Protection Against Mycotoxins

Types of MycotoxinsAflatoxin A. flavus, A. Parasiticus

OchratoxinA. Ochraceus Penicillium Viridicatum

DON F. TricinctumF. GraminearumF. Solani

ZON F. GraminearumF. Roseum

Fumonisin F. MoniliformeF. Prolliferatum

Citrinin P. Citrinium

EstimationHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Flourometer

ELISA Reader

AFLATOXIN

Aflatoxin interacts deleteriously with low dietary protein and fat, vitamin deficiencies, temperature extremes and infectious agents.

AFLATOXIN

Most prevalent and toxicB1 , B2 , G1 , G2, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus Condition of synthesis Temp.: 27-30 oC, Moisture : > 18%

Occurrence Maize, soya, rice polishing, sorghum, CSM, SFM

Mode of Action RNA synthesis, Hepatoxicity, Carcinogenesis

Feed Storage—Aflatoxin

Symptoms of Aflatoxicoses

Acute: Liver damage, Hemorrhage

(hematoma, capillary damage), Ataxia (nervous syndrome), death.

Chronic: Decreased performance, poor embryo

development, imunosuppression, carcinogenesis.

Signs/Symptoms

Inappetance, reduced and uneven growth (FCR)

Depressed Immune system

Feather picking

Purple discoloration of legs & feet

Paralysis & lameness

Loss of egg production

Loss of hatchability due to embryonic death

Poor FCRSlow Growth

RateLow Profit

PM LesionsGeneralized congestion

Liver & kidney were enlarged & pale

In chronic cases– liver become shrunken, firm and nodular

Hemorrhages on kidneys, pancreas & in sub cutis of legs

Anemia and Decrease in PCV, TEC, Hb, Total serum protein

Atrophy of bursa & thymus

Right : Pale liver receiving 200 ppb aflatoxin in feedCenter: Normal LiverLeft: Bird receiving low levels of aflatoxin in feed

Subcutaneous hemorrhages in Chicks

Feathers pull out easily

Postmortem LesionsParameters Negative

Control, %

1PositiveControl,

%

1% Sodium bentonite,

% Sub cut hemorrhages 2 75 30Liver enlarged 10 65 50Kidney enlarged 3 80 67Femur head necrosis 6 70 47Intestinal petecheal hemorrhages

1 60 35

Enlarged/hemorrhagic cecal tonsils

2 65 50

Thymus hemorrhagic 10 95 45Gall bladder distended 0 83 47

Mahmood, et. al., 1997

1, 70 ppb aflatoxins added

Aflatoxin in Poultry Feed

05

1015202530354045

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Months

ppb

OCHRATOXIN Ochratoxin A (B, C, D) A. ochraceus, P. viridicatum Conditions of synthesis Temperature: 4-30 oC, Moisture: > 17%

Occurrence Maize, rice polishing, soybean, sorghum

Mode of Action Nephrotoxicity Liver Toxicity

Symptoms of Ochratoxicoses

Acute Incoordination High mortality rate

Chronic Liver damage High water consumption Decreased bone strength Reduced body weight gain Lower Hatchability

Kidneys pale and accumulation of urates in ureters

Ochratoxicoses acute nephrosis

Ochratoxin

Gizzard erosions

Gizzard erosions penetrating in deep muscle layers

Ochratoxin

Pasting around vent feathers(enteritis) in adults

Withdrawal of contaminated feed causes disappearance of Ochratoxin residues from the liver within 24 hours and kidneys within 40 hours.

TRICHOTHECENE T-2 Toxin, Diacetoxyscirpenol, HT-2, Nivalenol, Fusarenon X (Deoxynivalenol) F. graminearum, F. sporotrichioides, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. solaniConditions of synthesis Temp 8-25 oC, Moisture : > 20%

Occurrence Maize, sorghum, rice polishing

Mode of Action Inhibition of protein synthesis

Symptoms of Trichothecene Toxicoses

Acute Hemorrhage (crop, stomach,

intestine, heart, lung, kidney), Edema, Beak lesion, Dermatitis, Digestive disorders (diarrhoea, refusal to eat)

Chronic Blood disorders (leukopenia),

immunosuppression, Reduced body weight gain, Thin egg shell

Diarrhea in chicksFusariotoxin & Trichothecene

toxicoses

Stomatitis due to T2 Fusariotoxicoses

Stomatitis following consumption of T2 Fusariotoxin

Ulcers along the upper and lower beak Trichothecenes toxicoses

Mycotoxin Interactions

Synergistic and Additive Effect of different MycotoxinsSynergistic EffectsAdditive Effects

In most cases there are no specific symptoms but reduced productivity and decreased resistance to infection. An impairment of the immune system increases susceptibility to caecal coccidosis, Newcastle disease, Marek’s disease, Infectious bursal disease, salmonella and other infections.

Mycotoxins and Antibody Titer

Guideline for mycotoxin contamination in Finished Poultry

Feed

Type of Mycotoxin

LowConcentration

MediumConcentratio

n

HighConcentrati

onAflatoxins < 20 20-50 > 50Ocharatoxin A < 10 10-60 > 60Trichothecenes, A

< 150 150-400 > 400

Trichothecenes, B

< 250 250-1000 > 1000

Fumonisin < 2000 2000-5000 > 5000Zearalenone < 50 50-250 > 250

ppb

Mycotoxin Detoxification Chemical Inactivation Alkali treatment, Adsorption

Physical Inactivation Blending, irradiation, heating

Biological Inactivation Certain spp of fungi, yeast & bacteria

Adsorbents exhibit high binding capacity in vivo were further tested in poultry and it was observed that some adsorbents are suitable to alleviate the toxic effects of specific mycotoxins.HSCAS resulted in almost total protection against aflatoxicosis, its efficacy against zearalenone and ochratoxin was limited.

SOLUTIONS

1. NON-CONTAMINATED MIXED FEEDS.2. RAW MATERIALS AND MAXIED FEEDS (MOISTURE = 9-12.5%).3. FIRST IN FIRST OUT4. TEMPERATURE = 20ć. 5. BLOW DRY AIR THROUGH THE RAW MATERIALS IN THE SILO.6. HYGIENE AND CLEANING.7. FUMIGATION SYSTEMS AGAINTS INSECTS, MITES, RODENTS.8. MOULD INHIBITORS.9. TREATMENTS OF THE MIX FACTORY EQUIPMENT WITH A

MOULD INHIBITOR.

Conclusion

“Prevention is better than cure”

The best policy to be adopted for mould and mycotoxins problems in

poultry feeding.