Review article
The influence of mycotoxins on pig health and performance
H. Valpotić
Vlasta Šerman
Abstract
Mycotoxins present a serious problem in swine nutrition. As secondary metabolites of moulds they are toxic substances that have a negative effect on health status and performance of animals and their products. Mycotoxin production is a complex process and it makes it difficult to predict which toxin will be produced and in what concentration. Feed is mostly contaminated by low concentrations of multiple mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, tricothecenes, fumonisins and zearalenone), which cause a variety of negative effects depending on the concentration taken in by an animal. Inside the organism, mycotoxin interactions are complex and can have antagonistic, synergistic and additive effect, depending on the combination and level of their inclusion. When it comes to mycotoxins swine is one of the most sensitive farm animals. Long-term consumption of contaminated food can lead to lower production results, health problems and reproductive disorders. Immunosupression in swine is one of more important negative effects resulting from long term low level mycotoxin intake. Mycotoxins are generally quite stable molecules and may remain in raw materials and animal products a considerable time presenting a great risk of possible transfer to humans.
Keywords
mycotoxins; mould; pigs; health; performance
Hrčak ID:
3635
URI
Publication date:
7.3.2006.
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