UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS FOR MYCOTOXICOSES IN POULTRY
Dr. Rambabu.D, Associate Professor
Dept. of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Korutla
PV Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University
Jagtial dist – 505 326. Telangana State.
e-mail: ram_vetdoc@rediffmail.com
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Introduction
Numerous mycotoxins with varied degrees of pathogenicity have an impact on poultry. Together with other poisons, infectious diseases, or nutritional deficits, they may have cumulative consequences. Identification and measurement of the particular toxin are necessary for diagnosis. Removal of the contaminated feed and supportive care are included in the treatment. Management procedures that prevent mould formation while feed is being prepared, transported, and stored are part of the prevention process.
Mycotoxicosis is a condition brought on by a fungus’s natural toxin. This typically happens to poultry when toxins-producing fungus flourish in grain and feed. There are hundreds of mycotoxins that range in toxicity from mild to severe. Infectious diseases, nutritional deficits, and other natural toxins can all interact with mycotoxins in additive or synergistic ways. Many remain harmful over time because they are chemically stable.
The importance of mycotoxin issues in poultry is certainly significant but sneaky. The increases in production efficiency that come along with successful management programmes for mycotoxins may be the best indirect indicators of the influence on poultry output.
Mycotoxicosis in chickens can be diagnosed based on symptoms, history, and the presence of mouldy feed, but confirmation requires the quantification and demonstration of a specific toxin.
When mouldy ingredients or feed are visible and the history, symptoms, and lesions point to feed intoxication, mycotoxicosis may be diagnosed. A new batch of feed consumption-related toxin exposure may cause subclinical or transitory illness. In areas with low-quality grain and feed ingredients as well as inadequate or protracted feed storage, exposure might be chronic or intermittent. Improved production efficiency and improvement brought on by fixing feed management issues might both point to a mycotoxin issue. Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and mycotoxins generated by Fusarium, can cause oral ulcers and crusts on the palate or tip of the tongue.
Mycotoxicosis must be definitively diagnosed by finding and measuring the specific toxin (s). Due to the commercial flocks’ quick and intensive usage of materials and feed, this might be challenging. Before delivering samples, diagnostic laboratories should be consulted as their capacity to test for mycotoxins varies. A representative feed sample should be included when testing unwell or recently deceased poultry. If mycotoxicosis is suspected, a necropsy and accompanying diagnostic tests should be performed in addition to the feed analysis. It’s possible for infectious or parasitic diseases to coexist. By feed analysis, a mycotoxicosis is occasionally suspected but not always proven. A thorough laboratory assessment can rule out further serious disorders in these circumstances.
Samples of ingredients and feed should be appropriately obtained and submitted for analysis right away. A batch of poisonous feed or grain may contain mycotoxin hotspots. The possibility of proving mycotoxin presence increases with more samples collected from various locations.
Samples should be taken at locations where ingredients are stored, where feed is made and transported, and where feed bins and feeders are located. As feed travels from the feed mill to the feeder pans, microbial activity increases. Transporting 500 g (1 lb) test samples in clean, clearly labelled paper bags is recommended. Because feed and grain quickly decay in airtight containers, sealed plastic or glass containers should only be used for brief periods of time storage and transportation.
Treatment of Mycotoxicoses in Poultry
- Remove toxic feed and replace with unadulterated feed
- Treat coexisting illness to reduce interactions between diseases
- Remedy poor management methods
- Provide supportive care with vitamins, trace minerals, and increased dietary protein
The toxic feed needs to be withdrawn and replaced with pure feed in order to treat mycotoxicosis. To reduce the effects of illness interactions, concurrent diseases should be treated, and poor management techniques need to be changed. Some mycotoxins increase the need for vitamins, trace minerals (particularly selenium), protein, and fats; these requirements can be made up for by adding supplements to feed and treating water-based waste. Although digestive tract adsorption using activated charcoal in the feed has a sparing effect, it is not feasible for larger production facilities.
Mycotoxicoses prevention in poultry
Use components and feed that are free of mould development and mycotoxins for the purpose of preventing mycotoxicoses in poultry. Use management techniques to stop the development of mould and mycotoxin throughout the production, transportation, and storage of feed.
The use of mycotoxin-free feed and ingredients, as well as management strategies that limit mould growth and mycotoxin formation during feed transit and storage, should be the main priorities in the prevention of mycotoxicoses. Inspection of feed storage and feeding systems on a regular basis might spot flow issues that enable residual feed, promote fungal activity, and produce mycotoxin. In feeders, feed mills, and storage bins, decaying, crusted feed can produce mycotoxins; cleaning up the issue and fixing it can have an instant positive impact. Extreme temperature conditions encourage the growth of mycotoxin and cause moisture to condense and migrate in bins.
By ventilating poultry houses to reduce excessive relative humidity, you can also cut down on the moisture that’s available for fungus growth and toxin production in feed. Antifungal feed additives that are used to stop the growth of fungi have no impact on toxins that have already formed, although they might be cost-effective when used in concert with other feed management techniques. The efficiency of organic acids (propionic acid, 500-1,500 ppm [0.5-1.5 g/kg]) as inhibitors can be affected by the particle size of feed ingredients and the buffering properties of some substances.
Aflatoxin is efficiently bound by sorbent substances like hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and is not absorbed. Esterified glucomannan, which is produced from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae’s cell wall, is resistant to ochratoxins and aflatoxin B1. By binding to fumonisins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin and decreasing their bioavailability, it lessens toxicity. Mycotoxins can be bound or degraded by a number of different fermentation products, algae and plant extracts, and microbial feed additives, therefore they may be applicable and appropriate in this case.
Conclusion
Mycotoxins develop in feed, reduce productivity, and can result in clinical illness. Using feed and products free of mould development and mycotoxins is a preventative measure. When mycotoxicosis is suspected, toxic feed should be replaced with unadulterated feed, concurrent diseases should be treated, poor management methods should be changed, and supplemental vitamins, minerals, and extra protein should be given to animals as a nutritional boost.
