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| | Mycotoxins Fungi are a group of thallophytic plants that are composed of molds, mildews, rusts, smuts and mushrooms.As a group they do not contain chlorophyll and generally reproduce by means of asexual spores. Metabolites produced by fungi are harmful to animals. These are called mycotoxins (myco maening fungi and toxin meaning poison). The literal meaning of mycotoxins is poisons from fungi! Mycotoxins are sometimes named on the basis of the fungi that produce them. For example, aflatoxins are named by using "a" for the fungi apergillus and fla for the species flavus and appending the word toxin. Deoxynivenol is an example of the actual chemical name of a toxin. In other cases, the the name is based on the effects of the toxin. An example is vomitoxin becuase it causes a vomiting reaction in the animal that ingests it. The effects of mycotoxins have been known throughout recorded history. However most of the research on mycotoxins have been done since the discovery of aflatoxins in Great Britain in 1960. Mycotoxicosis in animals is generally the result of exposure to a group of mycotoxins rather than to a specific mycotoxin. Nonlethal toxic effects of mycotoxins include:
Mycotoxins may cause mutagenic effects (cauing biological mutation) and teratogentic effects (causing fetal malformations). In larger doses mycotoxins can cause death. Some mycotoxins also exhibit carcinogenic (canser causing) effects when ingested over a period of time. The acute effects of mycotoxins are of greater concern in livestock production because animals are generally kept for relatively short periods of time, except in the case of breeding stock, where the chronic effects are also of concern.The acute effects reduce overall animal productivity. The carcinogenic effects are of greater concern in humans consuming animal products especially milk) that may contain mycotoxins. Mycotoxins appear to affect basic metabolic processes in the animal. These include carbohydrate metabolism, mitochondrial functions (conversion of food to energy) , lipid metabolism and the biosynthesis of protiens and nucleic acid. The specific mechanisms believed to be involved in the action of mycotoxins include:
Mycotoxins lower resistance to diseases and adversely affect immunization. A level of mycotoxin intake below that needed to produce visible chronic effects can affect resistance and immunity. Aflatoxin effects on immunization have been demonstrated in poultry with fowl cholera and in swine with erysipelas. Aflatoxin has also been shown to increase poultry susceptibility to salmonellosis, coccidiosis and candidosis (fungus infection caused by members of the genus candida). It has also increased the susceptibility of calves to fasciola (infestation with a trematode worm of the genus fasciola). Further research is needed on the effects of mycotoxins on resistance to disease and immunization. The direct-fed microorganisms , digestive enzymes and Yucca Schidigera sre formulated to supplement the inherent system of the animal when mycotoxins exist. The specific function of each strain of direct-fed microorganisms, digestive enzymes and Yucca Schidigera fiber powder are detailed to show how the synergistic effect of each combine to overcome or reduce the various mycotoxin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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