A comparative study on the use of various mycotoxins binders on the performance of pigs in a commercial swine operation

摘要

Mycotoxins are poisonous chemical compounds produced by certain fungal species that infect crops like corn, peanuts and etc. Farmers redbgnize them worldwide as an alarming, threatening ,and serious problem. They can be acute poisons, or have chronicor cumulative effects, and have great significance in the health of livestock and humans. The majority of these are produced by two genera of fungi; Aspergillus (aflatoxins) and Fusarium (Zearalenone, Vomitoxin, T2 toxin, Fumonisins). Aflatoxins are potent human carcinogens and interfere with the functioning of the immune system (Harvey et al.,1988, Pier 1981; Friend and Trenholm,1988). Epidemiological data continue to show that chronic exposure to aflatoxins causes liver cancer. Another aspect of aflatoxin is the transfer of Aflatoxin Bl metabolite which is Aflatoxin Ml into the milk of lactating animals that also could affect human health (Begino 1999). The clinical signs of aflatoxin infection include reduced growth and feed efficiency and at higherlevels, liver damage and jaundice may be observed (Ambrecht 1971). They are immunosuppressive and therefore increase the severity of concurrent diseases such as PRRS, swine flu and Mycoplasma pneumonia.