General Characteristics And Classification Of Mycotoxins

Question 1

General characzeristics

Answer 1

• mycotoxins are product of secondary metabolism of microscopic fungi
• extremely resistant to external effect e.g.heat
• extreme human and animal health hazards all over the world

Question 2

Outcome of mycotoxins

Answer 2

• depressed immunity
• decreased feed consumption, feed refusal
• retarded growth
• decreased production
• embryo mortality, abortion
• increased disease incidence: ketosis, fatty liver, metritis, mastitis, abomasum displacement, retained placenta

Question 3

Prerequisites of intoxication

Answer 3

• Presence of one or more mycotoxins in the feed/food
• Appropriate concentration of the mycotoxin,
• Sufficient length of consumption
• Individual/herd level sensitivity
• Intoxication
◦ Production decline
◦ Characteristic disease

Question 4

Development of mycotoxins

Answer 4

• Input of mycotoxin→metabolism of mycotoxins
◦ Excretion of mycotoxin metabolites→food safety, pollution of the environment
◦ Mycotoxin/metabolite binds to receptors
‣ Animal health consequences
‣ Food safety consequences

Question 5

Classification in poultry and livestock production

Answer 5

• Store-house moulds
◦ Aspergillus and penicillum spp.
→aflatoxins, ochratoxins, citrinin, patulin, rubratoxin B, ergot toxins
‣ Water content of the grain→14-24%
‣ Equilibrium relative humidity:≥70%
‣ Prior to harvest intact seeds are resistant for multiplication of fungi
‣ Multiplication needs seed damage←mechanical(harvest),insects
‣ Temperature→varies according to the needs of fungi
• Field moulds
◦ Fusarium spp
→zearalenone(F-2), trichothecenes(T-2), fumonisns(B1,B2,B3,B6)
◦ Stachibotrys atra (alternans)
→satratoxins (Macrocyclic trichothecenes)