This document discusses mycotoxins, which are toxic compounds produced by molds that can contaminate animal feed. It outlines several important mycotoxins like aflatoxins, trichothecenes, and ochratoxin A. The document describes their effects in poultry like reduced growth and egg production. It also discusses strategies to prevent mycotoxin formation through proper storage of feed and ways to treat contaminated feed using mycotoxin adsorbents like clays or yeast cell wall extracts that can bind the toxins. The goal is to highlight important mycotoxins, their impacts, and approaches to control and prevention in poultry production.

1. Technical Company for Industry and Trade
Mycotoxins
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C.E.O
Eng. Mohammad AlSaleh
technovet@yahoo.com

2. Outline
1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. type of mycotoxins
4. Mycotoxin adsorbents
5. Prevention and treatment
6. Conclusion
7. References
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3. Introduction (What are mycotoxins?)
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• Mycotoxins are toxic chemical compounds of low molecular weight produced by moulds,
they are invisible.
• Mycotoxins are common in the farm environment – surviving in many places and on many
different types of feed sources.
• Generally, the term mycotoxicosis refers to the syndromes resulting from ingestion, skin
contact or inhalation of these fungal metabolites.
• The growth of moulds, and mycotoxin production, are most encouraged by environmental
conditions such as temperature (hot/cool) and moisture (wet/dry).

4. objective
• Highlight about mycotoxin, the most important types
control and prevention.
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5. Type of mycotoxins
Today 300 - 400 mycotoxins are known
Mycotoxins of human concern based on toxicity:
▷ Aflatoxin
▷ Trichothecenes mycotoxins
▷ Zearalenone
▷ Fumonisin
▷ Ochratoxin A
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6. Aflatoxins
▷ Aflatoxins are the fungal metabolites produced by some strains of Aspergillus flavus
and Aspergillusparasiticus.
▷ Aflatoxin have a hepatotoxic effect in chickens and also known to have
hepatocarcinogenic effect in exposed animals.
▷ Aflatoxin is produced at a temperature of 15-40°C and requires 3-18% moisture.
▷ The four most common aflatoxins are B1, B2, G1 and G2, with the B1 most potent liver
toxin.
▷ In animals, their effects vary with the dose, length of exposure, species, breed, diet or
nutritional status.
▷ 1961, caused the deaths of over 100,000 turkey poults :“Turkey X disease”.
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7. Clinical signs:
• feed intake
• Poor growth and inhomogeneous flocks
• Abnormal pigmentation (shank, feet)
• Increase feed passage and feed conversion rate
• Immune suppression
• resistance to environment stress
• increase in leg problems
• increased mortality
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8. The most frequent effects of Aflatoxicosis in
layers and parent stocks :
• In layers decreased egg production, reduced egg size, poor
(thin) egg shell, pale egg shell and egg yolk.
• In parent stocks, there was a reduction in fertility and
hatchability, increased embryo mortality in the hatchery, and
lower semen volume in male parent stocks.
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9. Trichothecenes mycotoxins
▷ T-2 toxin is a very potent Type-A trichothecene, produced by Fusarium fungi.
▷ Trichothecenes mycotoxins affect actively dividing cells, such as those lining
the gastrointestinal tracts, skin, lymphoid and erythroid cells. They have
caustic and irritant effects on the skin and mucous membrane.
▷ Trichothecenes mycotoxins which are commonly found in the field, include
T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and deoxynivalenol (DON).
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10. Clinical sings:
• feed intake, growth depression, inhomogeneous flocks.
• Impaired FCR.
• Immune suppression.
• Poor or abnormal feathering.
• Dermal and oral lesions (crust on the beak, ulcers in oral cavity).
• Diarrhea, anemia.
• Abnormal pigmentation.
• Rickets effects, including severe fragility and bending of shanks,
soft and bending of beak.
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11. Clinical sings:
• In layers and parent stocks, there was a sharp decrease in egg
production, poor egg shell, increased number of cracked eggs, reduced
egg size; cyanosis of the comb and wattle.
• decreased fertility and hatchability (parent stocks).
• Sometimes there were neural disturbances, such as abnormal wing
positioning or lack of reflexes.
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12. Ochratoxin:
▷ Ochratoxin A is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin formed by.
▷ Ochratoxin type mycotoxin which is most commonly found in the field is
ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp., which has
a primary target organ on the kidneys as it is known to be nephrotoxic.
▷ Residues of OTA may be found in liver, kidneys, muscle, and eggs and
possess carcinogenic effects, which may be harmful when consumed by
humans.
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13. clinical signs:
• Decreased feed consumption.
• Decreased weight gain.
• Retarded growth.
• Poor feathering.
• Higher mortality rate.
• Higher FCR.
• Abnormal pigmentation (shank, feet).
• Increased water consumption.
• Immune suppressive effects.
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14. clinical signs:
• In layers and parent stocks, observations were decreased egg
production, egg size, and egg weight; poor egg shell; eggs with
blood/meat spots in the yolk or albumin; delay in sexual maturity.
• In parent stocks, there was a decrease in hatchability and poor progeny
performance.
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15. Fumonisins
▷ Fumonisins are mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides as well as by
Fusarium proliferatum and they occur predominately in maize and maize-
based feeds.
▷ Fumonisin which is most frequently found in the field is fumonisin B1.
Poultry are less sensitive to this compound. fumonisin contamination is
carcinogenic.
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16. Clinical signs:
• severe reduction in feed intake especially in layers
• lowered average daily weight gain
• reduced body weight, impaired FCR
• increased mortality
• diarrhea (sometimes dark and sticky excreta were seen)
• abnormal pigmentation
• immune suppression
• rickets effects
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17. Clinical signs:
• In layers and parent stocks, there were decreases in egg production,
lower egg weight, poor egg shell (more brittle), an increased percentage
of eggs with small and disintegrated yolks.
• In parent stocks a decrease in fertility and hatchability were observed.
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18. Zearalenone
▷ Zearalenone (ZEA) is an estrogenic metabolite of several species
of Fusarium which has been reported to occur in corn, soybean, wheat, barley,
oats and sorghum in many areas of the world.
▷ zearalenone is known to be primarily an estrogenic mycotoxin, this toxin
appears to bind to estrogenic receptors and results in hormonal changes.
Chickens are highly tolerant to zearalenone; therefore high doses are required
to cause reproductive disorders.
▷ In the field, zearalenone and DON were found simultaneously in feed or raw
materials and may have synergistic interaction.
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19. Clinical signs:
• decreased egg production in layer.
• poor egg shell and interior egg quality.
• In parent stocks, reduction in egg production, enlarged abdomen due to
cystic oviduct.
• In broilers, enlargement of comb and wattles, prolapses of cloaca were
observed.
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20. 20
Maximum tolerance limit
Aflatoxin 20 ppb
Ochratoxin A 40 ppb
Zeralenone 400 ppb
DON 5 ppm
T2 toxin 200 ppb
Maximum tolerance limit of some mycotoxins:

21. What are mycotoxin adsorbents?
▷ Mycotoxin adsorbents are ingredients that bind mycotoxins to help prevent
toxicity in the gastro intestinal tract and to prevent absorption across the gut wall.
▷ The adsorbent acts like a “chemical sponge” when the surface of these materials
are saturated with water by attracting polar functional groups of mycotoxins.
▷ The “bound” toxins are then eliminated in the faeces, thus preventing any
deleterious effects on the poultry.
▷ Mycotoxin binding is achieved through both physical and chemical adsorption
(ionic or covalent bonding).
▷ Mycotoxin adsorbents fall into two broad categories – Inorganic and Organic.
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22. Inorganic adsorbents
▷ The inorganic adsorbents are typically composed of inert, inorganic silicate clays
broadly categorized as aluminosilicates.
▷ Inorganic binders are further classified according to their physical structure;
predominantly phyllosilicates (sheet structure) and tectosilicates (3-dimensional
structure).
▷ The sheet structure (phyllosilicates) category consists of clays such as
bentonite (sodium and calcium) and smectites (HCAS and Montmorillonites). They
have a high Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) that allows binding of polar molecules in
the layers.
▷ The 3-dimensional clays (tectosilicates) or zeolites contain large crystalline pore
structures (similar to a honey-comb structure) that acts like a molecular sieve. 22

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24. Organic Adsorbents
▷ The primary organic adsorbents used in animal agriculture for toxin control are extracts
of yeast cell walls.
▷ Yeast cell wall extract is produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast that has gone
through successive centrifugations and then completed by a specific enzymatic
treatment. This process will produce a consistent supply of mannans (MOS) and ß-
glucan.
▷ Yeast cell wall extract which contains both mannan (MOS) and ß-glucan have been
shown to be an effective binder for a variety of mycotoxins. The ß-glucans have been
shown to bind zeralenone through a glucansmycotoxin binding process.
▷ The carbohydrate component of the yeast cell wall extract provides different binding
sites for different toxins.
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26. Prevention and treatment
▷ Prevention of mycotoxin formation is essential since there are few ways to completely
overcome problems once mycotoxins are present. Drought and insect damage are
most important in instigating mold growth and mycotoxin formation in the field. Soil
contamination, delayed harvest, late season rain and cool periods may increase
mycotoxins.
▷ Grain storage and harvesting equipment should be maintained to avoid kernel damage
and grains should not be allowed to remain at moisture levels greater than 15 to 18%.
▷ High temperatures increase the amount of free moisture (water activity) in the grain
which is the primary cause of mold growth in storage.
▷ Mycotoxin concentrations are greatest in the fines and cleaning can greatly reduce
mycotoxin concentrations in the grain. 26

27. ▷ Ammonia, propionic acid, sorbic acid, and microbial or enzymatic additives are
shown to be at least partially effective at inhibiting mold growth by providing some
of the acidity needed for preservation without sole reliance on microbial produced
acids.
▷ Increasing dietary levels of nutrients such as protein, energy, and antioxidants may
be advisable.
▷ Strategic use of mold inhibitors can be beneficial.
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28. Mycotoxins impact in Poultry
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29. Solutions
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30. TECHNO SAFE / PLUS / ULTRA
-Used to treatment and prevention of mycotoxins produced by
the use of feed polluted with mycotoxins (in all kind of animals).
-Used to treatment and prevention of enteric disorders and/or
diarrhea generated by feed polluted with mycotoxins.
-Used to improve the intestinal function regulating the ionic
equilibrium and correcting the enteric disorders derived from an
ionic disorder.
- Used as a natural pellet binder for feed.
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31. TECHNO SAFE
Aluminum Silicates
Chmical Composition
Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate
Dosage and Use
Use it in the doses related to the balanced feed depending on the temperature, humidity,
storage conditions and to purpose of use:
-Balanced feed with a normal risk (proper temperature, humidity and storage time): 1-2 Kg/MT
of feed.
-High risk or in unfavorable conditions: 2 - 5 Kg/MT of feed. 31

32. TECHNO SAFE PLUS
Antifungal Mycotoxin Binder
Chmical Composition
Anticaking agent ( HSCAS) 92%, Acetic Acid 0.25%, Formic Acid 2.5% , Ammonium Formate 2.5%,
Propionic Acid 0.25%, Calcium Propionate 2.5%.
Dosage and Use
Use it in the doses related to the balanced feed depending on the temperature, humidity, storage
conditions and to purpose of use:
-Balanced feed with a normal risk (proper temperature, humidity and storage time): 1 Kg/MT of
feed.
-High risk or in unfavorable conditions: 1 - 2 Kg/MT of feed.
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33. TECHNO SAFE ULTRA
Antifungal Mycotoxin Binder
Chmical Composition
Anticaking agent ( HSCAS) 81.5%, Mannan and β-Glucan 10%, Enzyme 0.5%, Acetic acid 0.25%,
Formic acid 2.5%, Ammonium Format 2.5%, Propionic acid 0.25%, Calcium propionate 2.5%.
Dosage and Use
Use it in the doses related to the balanced feed depending on the temperature, humidity, storage
conditions and to purpose of use:
-Balanced feed with a normal risk (proper temperature, humidity and storage time): 1 Kg/MT of
feed.
-High risk or in unfavorable conditions: 1 - 2 Kg/MT of feed.
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34. Conclusion
▷ The presence of mycotoxins in feed can hit all animal producers hard. Loss
of performance, and sometimes loss of the finished product can result
from feeding grains with high levels of mycotoxins.
▷ Among the most affected species are poultry. The importance of quality
feedstuffs to producers can mean the difference between profit and loss.
Effectively reducing the amount of mycotoxins in feed is oftentimes critical
to achieving the best production.
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35. References
▷ Bennett, J.W. and Klich, M. 2003. Mycotoxins. Clinical Microbiology Reviews.
▷ Y. Espada, M. Domingo, J. Gomez, M. A. Calvo, 1992, Pathological lesions
following an experimental intoxication with aflatoxin B1 in broiler chickens,
Research in Veterinary Science.
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