Swine toxicoses Flashcards
The 2 main toxicoses that swine experience.
Mycotoxicoses & salt poisoning or toxocosis
What pigs are sensitive to mycotoxins?
All pigs are extremely sensitive to mycotoxins.
Young pigs and breeding sows/boars are generally the most susceptible (so finishers probably the least susceptible).
Where do pigs get exposed to mycotoxins from?
From feed and bedding.
Fungi multiply on cereals, corn, cotton seed and other food.
Fungi require adequate moisture, oxygen and carbohydrates to multiply and temperatures from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F).
Common fungi causing disease (mycotoxicosis) include these 3 species:
Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium
Fungi require adequate moisture, oxygen and carbohydrates to multiply and temperatures from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F).
What are Aflatoxins?
Toxins produced by Aspergillus fungi found in maize, peanuts, and soya beans
Aflatoxins are known for causing significant health issues in livestock.
Fusarium species require what for multiplication and toxin production?
High levels of moisture and relative humidity (>88 percent) for multiplication and toxin production.
Aspergillus and Penicillium multiply at lower levels.
Toxins are NOT destroyed by heating.
Temperature and pressure may reduce the actual fungal load though.
Factors that may increase the likelihood of mycotoxins in feed: (11)
Damaged or broken grains
Storage of moist grain
Storage in warm damp conditions
Damaged leaking feed bins
Allowing grains to heat
Fluctuating environmental temperatures
Fungal growth in liquid feeding systems
The mixing of contaminated and uncontaminated grains
Prolonged usage of feed bins, feed bridging across the bin and development of moulds.
The bridging of feed in bins over long periods of time and their sudden descent.
Prolonged use of automatic feeders and retention of mouldy feed.
what type of toxicosis is Zearalenone?
also known as estrogenic F2 toxin, is mycotoxin Fusarium poisoning
Produced by a strain of Fusarium graminearum. Found in high moisture maize, wheat, barley, rice, and oats before harvest.
What are the clinical signs of Aflatoxin poisoning in sows? (5)
- Abortion
- Agalactia
- Liver damage
- Reduced performance
- Immuno-suppression
Aflatoxins come from Aspergillus.
Clinical signs of zearalenone toxicity in gilts and in sows? (3+3)
Gilts:
swollen red vulva
enlargement of the teats and mammary glands
rectal and vagina prolapses
Sows:
Stillbirths
Infertility
Farrowing early
Clinical signs of zearalenone toxicity in boars? (3)
Poor libido
Edema of the prepuce
Loss of hair
What type of mycotoxin may cause piglets to be born weak and specifically splay-legged?
Zearalenone
What type of crop are aflatoxins most likely to be found in?
Found in maize, peanuts and soya beans
aflatoxins = aspergillus fungus
What are the clinical signs of Zearalenone in gilts?
- Swelling and reddening of the vulva
- Enlargement of the teats and mammary glands
- Rectal and vaginal prolapses
What are the clinical signs of Zearalenone in boars?
- Poor libido
- Edema of the prepuce
- Loss of hair
What is the most important strand of Zearalenone?
F2 toxin produced by Fusarium graminearum
Where is Zearalenone mycotoxin found?
In maize, wheat, barley, rice, and oats
Zearalenone mycotoxin = Fusarium fungus
What are the clinical signs of Aflatoxin poisoning in piglets?
Poor growth
What are the clinical signs of Ochratoxin and Citrinin poisoning in sows and in weaners/growers? (3+2)
Sow:
* Liver/kidney damage
* Jaundice
Weaners/growers:
* Reduced performance
* Reduced growth
* Kidney damage
Ochratoxin and Citrinin (Aspergillus and penicillium poisoning)
What are the clinical signs of Ergot poisoning? (5)
- Poor growth
- Increased respiration
- Depression
- Cyanosis
- Gangrene & necrosis at extremities (which can look like a superficial crust at the tail base)
What crops are Ergotoxins (Ergot poisoning) found in?
in wheat, oats and rye grass
Prevention of mycotoxins? (2)
Effects can be mitigated by regrinding the feed and mixing with an alternate source at a ratio of 1:10 and feeding to growing stock on a test basis first.
or
Use mycotoxin binders
Clinical signs of salt poisoning. (8)
Gastroenteritis, constipation
Thirst
Itching
Dog-sitting
Opisthotonus
Lying on sternum
Blindness signs
Pressing the head - convulsive movements not characteristic for other CNS damages.
What is the treatment for salt poisoning?
- Limited drinking water
- Heart medication
- Tonic substances (caffeine, atropine, ether)
Prognosis is not great either way.
