Mycotoxicoses in Domestic Animals
Mycotoxicoses in Domestic Animals
Disease | Toxins (When Known) | Fungi or Molds | Regions Where Reported | Contaminated Toxic Foodstuff | Animals Affected | Signs and Lesions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aflatoxicosis | Aflatoxins | Aspergillus flavus, A parasiticus | Widespread (warmer climatic zones) | Moldy peanuts, soybeans, cottonseeds, rice, sorghum, corn (maize), other cereals | All poultry, pigs, cattle, sheep, dogs | Major effects in all species are slow growth and hepatotoxicosis. Also see Aflatoxicosis in Animals Aflatoxicosis in Animals Aflatoxicosis is a worldwide mycotoxicosis with production of potent hepatotoxins on animal feed both in the field and storage during hot temperatures (drought) and often occurs concurrent with... read more and see Mycotoxicoses in Poultry Mycotoxicoses in Poultry . |
Diplodiosis | Unknown | Diplodia zeae | South Africa | Moldy corn (maize) | Cattle, sheep | Nervous system disorders, cold and insensitive limbs. Recovery usual on removal of source. |
Ergotism | Ergot alkaloids | Claviceps purpurea | Widespread | Seed heads of many grasses, grains | Cattle, horses, pigs, poultry | Peripheral gangrene, late gestation suppression of lactation initiation. See Ergotism in Animals Ergotism in Animals Ergotism in animals generally presents as lameness; necrosis of the tip of the tail, ears, and hoof tissue; and decay of the wattle, comb, beak, and feet in birds. Additional adverse effects... read more |
Paspalinine and paspalitrems, tremorgens | C paspali, C cinerea | Widespread | Seed heads of paspalum grasses | Cattle, horses, sheep | ||
Estrogenism and vulvovaginitis | Zearalenone | Fusarium graminearum Perfect state: Gibberella zeae | Widespread | Moldy corn (maize) and pelleted cereal feeds, standing corn, corn silage, other grains | Pigs, cattle, sheep, poultry | Vulvovaginitis in pigs, anestrus or pseudopregnancy in mature sows, early embryonic death of swine embryos, estrogenism in cattle and sheep, reduced egg production in poultry. Also see Mycotoxin-Associated Estrogenism and Vulvovaginitis in Animals Mycotoxin-Associated Estrogenism and Vulvovaginitis in Animals The estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone can cause estrogenism in animals, manifested clinically as vulvovaginitis. Several Fusarium species, but particularly F graminearum, can produce... read more |
Facial eczema (Pithomycotoxicosis) | Sporidesmins | Pithomyces chartarum | Widespread | Toxic spores on pasture litter | Sheep, cattle, farmed deer | |
Fescue foot | Ergovaline | Neotyphodium coenophialum | USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy | Tall fescue grass (Lolium arundinacea) | Cattle, horses | Lameness, weight loss, hyperthermia, heat intolerance, dry gangrene of extremities, agalactia, thickened fetal membranes. Also see Fescue Poisoning in Animals Fescue Poisoning in Animals Fescue lameness, which resembles ergot toxicosis, is believed to be caused by ergot alkaloids, especially ergovaline, produced by the endophyte fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum in tall... read more . |
Fusariotoxicosis, vomiting and feed refusal in pigs | Nonmacrocyclic trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol [DAS], many other trichothecenes) | Fusarium sporotrichioides, F culmorum, F graminearum, F nivale; other fungal species | Widespread (except for deoxynivalenol, more likely in temperate to colder climates) | Cereal crops, moldy roughage | Pigs, cattle, horses, poultry | Vomiting and feed refusal (deoxynivalenol), loss of appetite and milk production, diarrhea, staggers, skin irritation, immunosuppression; recovery (from T-2, DAS) on removal of contaminated feed. Also see Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene mycotoxins contain a large number of compounds classified as tetracyclic sesquiterpenoids with a 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene core structure. The 12–13 epoxy ring structure is responsible... read more . |
Leukoencephalomalacia | Fumonisin B1 | Fusarium verticilloides | Egypt, USA, South Africa, Greece | Moldy corn (maize) | Horses, other Equidae, pigs | Depends on degree and specific site of brain lesion. Also see Fumonisin Toxicosis in Animals Fumonisin Toxicosis in Animals Fumonisins are responsible for two well-described diseases of livestock, equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema. Equine leukoencephalomalacia is a mycotoxic disease of the... read more . |
Mycotoxic lupinosis (as distinct from alkaloid poisoning) | Phomopsins | Phomopsis leptostromiformis | Widespread | Moldy seed, pods, stubble, and haulm of several Lupinus spp affected by Phomopsis stem blight | Sheep, occasionally cattle, horses, pigs | Lassitude, inappetence, stupor, icterus, marked liver injury. Usually fatal. Also see Mycotoxic Lupinosis in Animals Mycotoxic Lupinosis in Animals Lupinosis is a liver disease or hepatotoxicosis caused by ingestion of lupine plants infected with Diaporthe toxica (previously identified as Phomopsis leptostromiformis). Lupinosis... read more . |
Myrotheciotoxicosis, dendrodochiotoxicosis | Macrocyclic trichothecenes (verrucarins, roridins, etc) | Myrothecium verrucaria, M roridum | Southeast Europe, former USSR | Moldy rye stubble, straw | Sheep, cattle, horses | Acute—diarrhea, respiratory distress, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, immunosuppression, death. Chronic—ulceration of GI tract, unthriftiness, gradual recovery. Also see Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene mycotoxins contain a large number of compounds classified as tetracyclic sesquiterpenoids with a 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene core structure. The 12–13 epoxy ring structure is responsible... read more . |
Macrocyclic trichothecenes (baccharinoids) | M verrucaria | Brazil | Plants of Baccharis spp that contain the toxins | Cattle, other herbivores | Epithelial necrosis of GI tract. Also see Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene mycotoxins contain a large number of compounds classified as tetracyclic sesquiterpenoids with a 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene core structure. The 12–13 epoxy ring structure is responsible... read more . | |
Ochratoxicosis | Ochratoxin, also citrinin | Aspergillus ochraceus and others, Penicillium viridicatum, P citrinum | Widespread | Moldy barley, corn (maize), wheat | Pigs, poultry | Perirenal edema, enlarged pale kidneys with cortical cysts, and tubular degeneration and fibrosis; immunosuppression, polyuria and polydipsia. |
Penicillium-associated tremorgens | Penitrem A | P crustosum, P cyclopium, P commune | Widespread | Cereal grains, cheese, fruit, meats, nuts, refrigerated foods; compost | Cattle, dogs, horses, sheep | Neurotoxic signs, including continual tremors, seizures, hyperexcitability, ataxia. Vomiting and CNS signs in dogs. |
Roquefortine | P roqueforti | As above, and in silage | ||||
Perennial ryegrass staggers | Lolitrems | Lolium perenne,Neotyphodium lolii, an endophyte fungus confined to L perenne | Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA | Endophyte-infected ryegrass pastures | Sheep, cattle, horses, deer | Tremors, incoordination, collapse, convulsive spasms. Also see Annual Ryegrass Toxicosis Annual Ryegrass Toxicosis . |
Poultry hemorrhagic syndrome | Probably aflatoxins and rubratoxins | Probably Aspergillus flavus, A clavatus, Penicillium purpurogenum, Alternaria sp | USA | Moldy grain and meal | Growing chickens | Depression, anorexia, no weight gain, widespread internal hemorrhages, sometimes aplastic anemia, death. See Mycotoxicoses in Poultry Mycotoxicoses in Poultry . |
Pulmonary edema, emphysema | 4-Ipomeanol | Fusarium solani | USA | Moldy sweet potatoes | Cattle | Acute pulmonary edema, leading to interstitial pneumonia and emphysema. |
Porcine pulmonary edema | Fumonisin B1 and Fumonisin B2 | Fusarium verticilloides | USA, South Africa | Corn | Swine | Acute interlobular pulmonary edema and hydrothorax cause anoxia and cyanosis. Survivors may develop icterus and chronic hepatotoxicosis. |
Slobbers syndrome | Slaframine (and swainsonine) | Rhizoctonia leguminicola | USA | Black patch disease, legumes (notably red clover) eaten as forage or hay | Sheep, cattle, horses | Salivation, bloat, diarrhea, sometimes death. Recovery usual when removed from clover. Also see Slaframine Toxicosis in Animals Slaframine Toxicosis in Animals Trifolium pratense (red clover) may become infected with the fungus Slafractonia leguminicola (formerly Rhizoctonia leguminicola) (black patch disease), especially in wet... read more . |
Stachybotryotoxicosis | Macrocyclic trichothecenes (satratoxin, roridin, verrucarin) | Stachybotrys atra (S alternans) | Former USSR, southeast Europe | Moldy roughage, other contaminated feed | Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs | Stomatitis and ulceration, anorexia, leukopenia, extensive hemorrhages in many organs, inflammation and necrosis in the gut, immunosuppression. Also see Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene Toxicosis in Animals Trichothecene mycotoxins contain a large number of compounds classified as tetracyclic sesquiterpenoids with a 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene core structure. The 12–13 epoxy ring structure is responsible... read more . |
Sweet clover poisoning | Dicumarol | Penicillium spp, Mucor spp, Aspergillus spp | North America | Sweet clover (Melilotus spp) | Cattle, horses, sheep | Vitamin K antagonism with coagulopathy and hemorrhage. Also see Sweet Clover Poisoning Sweet Clover Poisoning . |
Tremorgen ataxia syndrome | Penitrems, verruculogen, paxilline, fumitremorgens, aflatrems, roquefortine | Penicillium crustosum, P puberulum, P verruculosum, P roqueforti, Aspergillus flavus, A fumigatus, A clavatus, and others | USA, South Africa, probably worldwide | Moldy feed; high-protein food products, even under refrigeration, eg, cream cheese, walnuts | All species, but dogs are quite susceptible | Tremors, polypnea, ataxia, collapse, convulsive spasms. |
