The aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic metabolites of Aspergillus flavus, A parasiticus, and others. Aflatoxicosis in poultry primarily affects the liver but can involve immunologic, digestive, and hematopoietic functions. Aflatoxin adversely affects:
weight gain
feed intake
feed conversion efficiency
pigmentation
processing yield
egg production
male and female fertility
hatchability
Susceptibility to aflatoxins varies, but in general, ducklings, turkeys, and pheasants are susceptible, whereas chickens, quail, and guinea fowl are relatively resistant.
Aflatoxin causes:
general unthriftiness with high morbidity and mortality possible
lesions in the liver, reddened due to necrosis and congestion or yellow due to lipid accumulation
hemorrhages in liver and other tissues
Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, but tumor formation is rare with natural disease, probably because the animals do not live long enough for this to occur.
