The clinical and pathomorphological diagnosis of mycotoxicosis in different swine categories

Abstract

The issue of mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis in veterinary medicine is directly connected to the usage of mouldy and/or adversely stored grains (corn, wheat, barley) used in animal feed. In swine production, in our geographical region, the most common are mycotoxicosis caused by zearalenon (F-2 toxin), but aflatoxins, ochratoxin and trichothecenes can also be found. For the known mycotoxins of clinical importance, the response is usually subacute or chronic and the presenting clinical signs are often vague. Mostly the problems are expressed only as alterations of the reproductive cycle, reduced feed intake and slow growth. However, if we consider the clinical signs and pathomorphological picture of mycotoxicosis in different swine categories (breeding animals, suckling and weaned piglets, fatteners), the age dependent changes can be found. Some mycotoxins have hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and immunosuppressive effects, which further complicate the clinical and pathomorphological picture and diagnosis of mycotoxicosis in swine. The material for this research included the samples provided from ten swine farms. In different swine categories health disorders, resembling to the problem with mycotoxins were detected. The applied research methods included clinical evaluation and pathomorphological examination and laboratory microbiological feed testing, in order to examine the presence of fungi and some mycotoxins (aflatoxins, zearalenon, ochratoxin A and trichothecenes). On the basis of the obtained results, it may be concluded that the most frequently detected mycotoxin in the examined feed samples was zearalenon. The presence of mycotoxin in feed was directly connected to the reproductive failures and diagnosed health disorders in the examined swine categories (vulvovaginitis, skin necrosis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis).

Keywords

• diagnosis of mycotoxicosis
• swine feed
• zearalenon