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A mycotoxin is a fungal metabolite causing pathological or physiological changes in man or animal.
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In rainy season it is specifically labile to contain a toxic factor – Aflatoxins, a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus flavus.
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Mould spoilage and Aflatoxin production can occur at any stage from growing crop to the formulated feed or stored raw material.
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Drought may leads to cracked seeds, which favours the insect infestation.
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Aflatoxins are the most potent toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic metabolities produced by the species of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus on food and feed materials.
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Presence of oxygen, conducive temperature (10 – 40ºC) and high humidity favours the mould growth.
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High moisture in the crop, which harvested around wet period and also inadequately dried products, favours the fungal growth and toxin production.
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There are four Aflatoxins, B1, G1, B2, G2 out of which B1 is most toxic.
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The susceptibility to these toxins differs among the species, turkey poults and ducklings are highly susceptible, calves and pigs are susceptible whereas mice and sheep are resistant.
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In the same species, young animals are more susceptible than adults.
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The most common symptoms in the affected animals are liver damage with marked bile duct proliferation, liver necrosis and hepatic tumors while the other symptoms include gastritis and kidney dysfunction.
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The occurrence of these toxins in food and feed materials and their consumption has caused not only health hazards in animals and humans, but also resulted in economic losses, especially to the exporting countries.
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Other fungal toxins include T2 toxin, Ochratoxin A and Zearalenone.
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Aflatoxins, metabolite of Aspergillus flavus is most potent toxic.
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Presence of oxygen, conducive temperature (10 – 40ºC) and high humidity favours the mould growth.
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- Among B1, G1, B2, G2 Aflatoxins, B1 is most toxic.
- Turkey poults and ducklings are highly susceptible.
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