10/30/2020: 

Published by Avined

Fungi can produce a variety of substances that are toxic for chickens. Such toxins are also known as mycotoxins. Ingestion of these toxins can be harmful for chickens. Depending on the type of toxin, it can result in liver damage, kidney damage or damage to the mucus membranes, or a decrease in feed intake, egg production, fertility or immunity. These types of general problems can also occur because of various diseases or management issues.

The poultry sector has commissioned research to gain insight into whether such problems can be caused by mycotoxins, as a correct diagnosis is essential for targeted treatment.

• Mycotoxins can be harmful for chickens, that much is clear. But why is it so difficult to identify the diseases caused by these toxins?
• Mycotoxins cause extremely general symptoms, such as reduced feed intake and drop of egg production. The non-specific symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose mycotoxicosis (the disease caused by mycotoxins), as the symptoms can be very similar to other diseases.
• Mycotoxins can play a role in the severity of other diseases, but remains undetected.
• The tests available for mycotoxins are only suitable for dry matter, like feed.

Diseases due to mycotoxins therefore often go undetected, making proper treatment difficult. Royal GD has conducted a study to gain insight into the occurrence of mycotoxicoses, which is funded from the poultry sector's research contribution.

Study methodology

Mycotoxins can occur at low (harmless) levels in feed components, without having any toxic effect, but the presence of T-2 toxins might also be an indication that other mycotoxins can be present and that a combination of different toxins might influence the health of the bird.

GD has developed a test to detect some mycotoxins in chicken bile, including the relevant mycotoxin T-2, but we do not have reference data regarding the level of intake of T-2 and the test result of the bile test.. At first it is  important to validate the bile test. . That is why as part of the study, animals are tested with a known levels (high and low) of in take of mycotoxin T-2. Both a short period of high intake and a chronic intake of low intake are included in the study. The resulting value can be used as a benchmark in the field. Because if animals are found in the field with a similar value to that in the study, a similar level of exposure to T-2 or other mycotoxins may be expected.

Study results by the end of 2020

As a result, available tests will be able to determine more effectively whether there is or has been an intake of mycotoxins. In addition, information will then become available as part of animal health monitoring about exposure to T-2 in Dutch poultry, making targeted treatment possible. The results of this study are expected by the end of 2020.