Aflatoxicosis is caused by the ingestion of one of the classes of toxins found in certain fungi called aflatoxins, which are produce by Aspergillus species.
Aflatoxin contamination is typically found in grains, tree nuts, corn, corn products, cottonseed oil and groundnut cake. Crops can become contaminated with aflatoxins while growing in the field, during harvesting, transportation, mixing, or during storage.
Aflatoxins are one of the key challenges faced by poultry farmers as well as by Poultry Feed manufacturer as it leads to serious economic losses. In our country having tropical climate with hot and humid condition coupled with poor harvesting of crops during wet season, inadequate drying and storage facilities make feed stuff susceptible to fungal contamination resulting in greater economic losses to poultry industry through Mycotoxicosis.
Susceptible Poultry
Poultry has very high degree of susceptibility to aflatoxins as compare to other farm animals like Cattle and Fish. The effects of aflatoxins on Poultry depend on various factors like genetic (species and breed strain), physiological (age, nutrition, and stress) and environmental (climatic and farm management). Chicks at brooding stage are susceptible to even low levels of aflatoxins while and young and fast-growing birds are more affected than adults. Broiler birds are much more sensitive and susceptible than a well grown layer birds. Male birds are more susceptible than female due to higher growth rate.
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Symptoms
Below are the symptoms of aflatoxin in poultry
1. Decreased growth rate and poor feed conversion
2. Passage of undigested food in the dropping.
3. Anemia of the infected birds due to decrease food intake.
4. Decrease egg production in layers quantitatively and qualitatively
5. Decrease hatchability in breeders due to embryonic mortality.
6. Reduced vaccine effectiveness
7. Gastrointestinal tract damage
8. Mortality of birds
READ ALSO: Sudden Death Syndrome in Broiler
Control
1. Contaminated feed must be stopped and replaced by another feed free from aflatoxin
2. Treat the birds with some antitoxic substances.
3. Birds vaccinated during the clinical signs of aflatoxicosis must be revaccinated
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Conclusion
Aflatoxins can seriously reduce poultry productivity. There are instances where poultry are fed with highly contaminated grains considered unfit for human consumption and are thus at risk of acute toxicosis. Although there are still no established levels at which we can say that aflatoxins are safe for livestock. We should have the usage of quality ingredients in poultry diet alongside use of some mold inhibitors & toxin binders to control the growth of mould responsible for aflatoxins.
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