This document discusses mycotoxins, which are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. It provides a brief history of mycotoxins, describes some major types like aflatoxins and fumonisin, and lists the foods highest in mycotoxins. The clinical signs caused by different mycotoxins are outlined. Tests for detecting mycotoxins and potential treatment options are also summarized.

1. MYCOTOXINS
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
VIVEKANANDA ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR
WOMEN SANKAGIRI
Subject: Food Microbiology
Submitted by
Dharshini Dharmalingam
III B.SC., -Microbiology
Department of Microbiology
Vivekananda Arts and Science College for Women
Sankagiri, Salem.
Tamil Nadu, India.

2. Contents
● Introduction
● History
● Mycotoxins chain of events
● Types
● Clinical signs
● Mycotoxins producing fungi/mold
● Foods highest in Mycotoxins
● Tests for Mycotoxins
● Treatment of Mycotoxins
● Mycotoxins can cause
● Potential uses

3. INTRODUCTION:
● Myco - fungus
● Toxins - naturally produced poison.
● Mycotoxins are invisible.
● Mycotoxins are low molecular weight.
● Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that are recognized as
toxic to other life forms.
● Resistant to temperature & storage.
● It is a toxic metabolic substance .
● Can be heat stable,not destroy by canning or other process.

4. HISTORY:
1. The term mycotoxins was used for the first time in 1961 in the aftermath of a
veterinary crisis in England, during which thousands of animals died.The disease
was linked to a peanut meal,incorporated in the diet, contaminated with a toxin
produced by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus.
2.. Probably means of protection from insects, microorganisms, nematodes, grazing
animals and humans.
3. “Chemical defense system” of the fungi or Mold

6. Types:
● Aflatoxins
● Fumonisin
● Ochratoxins
● Palutin
● Citrinin
● Trichothecenes
● Zearalenone

7. AFLATOXINS :
● Aflatoxins is the name for the group of toxins (poisonous
chemical compunds) that are produced by two fungi called
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

8. CLINICAL SIGNS:
● Poor growth and inhomogeneous flocks.
● Abnormal pigmentation (shank,feet)
● Increased feed passage and feed conversion rate
● Immune suppression
● Increase in leg problems
● Increased mortality

9. FUMONISIN:
● Fumonisin are produced by Fusarium verticillioides, F.
Proliferatum and
F. nygamai.

10. CLINICAL SIGNS:
● Reduced body weight
● Impaired FCR
● Diarrhea
● Abnormal pigmentation
● Immune suppression
● Rickets effects
● Increased Mortality

11. OCHRATOXINS:
● Aspergillus ochraceus and several other species including penicillium
produce seven structurally related Secondary metabolites called
Ochratoxins.
● Ochratoxins is found in a large variety of foods including wheat, corn
,soybeans,barley,coffee beans, means and cheese.
● Barley is thought to be the predominant sources.

12. CLINICAL SIGNS:
● Decreased feed consumption.
● Decreased weight gain.
● Retarted growth.
● Poor feathering
● Higher Mortality rate
● Higher FCR
● Increased water consumption
● Immune suppressive effects.

13. PALUTIN:
● Palutin is produced by Penicillium clariform, Penicillium
expansum,Penicillium patulum.

14. CITRININ:
● Citrinin is a mycotoxin which is often found in food.
● It is a secondary metabolites produced by fungi Citrinin is a
nephrotoxic mycotoxin.

15. TRICHOTHECENES:
● Trichothecenes mycotoxins which are commonly found in the
field, include T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol(DAS), and
deoxynivalenol (DON).
● T-2 toxins is a very potent type -A Trichothecene ,produced by
Fusarium fungi.

16. CLINICAL SIGNS:
● Immune suppression
● Poor or abnormal feathering
● Diarrhea
● Anemia
● Abnormal pigmentation
● Dermal and orallavu lesions ( crush on the beak, ulcers in
oral cavity).

17. ZEARALENONE:
● Zearalenone 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.

18. CLINICAL SIGNS:
● Decreased egg Production in layer.
● Poor egg shell and interior egg quality.
● In parents stocks ,reduction in egg Production, enlarged
Abdominal due to cystic oviduct.
● In broilers, enlargement of comb and wattles, prolapses of
cloaca were observed.

21. TESTS FOR MYCOTOXINS:
● Qualitative test
● Quantitative test
● Enzyme Linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA).
● Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
● High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

22. TREATMENT OF MYCOTOXINS:
● There is no specific Treatment.
● Intravenous fluid replacement.
● Hameodialysis.
● Corticosteroids
● Supplement with vitamin & protein.

23. MYCOTOXINS CAN CAUSE:
● Death
● Respiratory problems
● Reproductive problems
● Liver ,kidney ,or other organs damage.
● Cancer.
● Bleeding
● Birth defects.

24. POTENTIAL USES:
● Medical application- for menopausal syndrome in women.
● Agricultural application- use as herbicides & insecticides.

25. Thank you