The economic impact of reduced animal productivity, increased incidence of disease due to immunosuppression, damage to vital organs, and interferences with reproductive capacity is many times greater than the impact caused by death due to mycotoxin poisoning. In comparison to other animals, poultry species tend to be resistant to the effects of fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone. However, the presence of these mycotoxins within poultry rations is an indication that mold activity has occurred in the ration or in the ingredients within the ration. Since mold activity can generate numerous other mycotoxins as well as reduce the nutritive value and palatability of feeds, the presence of fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, or zearalenone in poultry feeds is cause for concern. Nursing animals may be affected by exposure to aflatoxin metabolites secreted in the milk.
Aflatoxin causes a variety of symptoms depending on the animal species.
DON has been associated with reduced milk production in dairy cattle, vomiting by swine consuming contaminated feed or their refusal to eat feed containing the toxin, and inhibiting reproductive performance and immune function in several animal species. In addition, DON levels greater than 500 ppb have been associated with numerous other field problems. Zearalenone mimics the effect of the female hormone estrogen and, at low doses, increases the size or early maturity of mammary glands and reproductive organs. At higher doses zearalenone interferes with conception, ovulation, implantation, fetal development, and the viability of newborn animals. Fumonisin is a mycotoxin which has only recently been discovered.