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Mycotoxicosis in food producing animals.
1Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance, United States Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Summary
Mycotoxins, toxic fungal metabolites, cause diseases called mycotoxicosis in animals and pose public health risks. Symptoms vary widely, impacting animal health and potentially contaminating food products.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Toxicology
- Food Safety
Background:
- Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi.
- Ingestion of contaminated feed initiates mycotoxicosis, a disease affecting various animal species.
- Mycotoxin exposure presents risks to both animal health and human consumers of animal products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the toxicological effects of mycotoxins in animals.
- To highlight the public health implications of mycotoxin contamination in the food chain.
- To underscore the importance of understanding mycotoxin-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis.
- Analysis of reported clinical signs and toxicological outcomes in affected animals.
- Assessment of potential human exposure routes through animal-derived foods.
Main Results:
- Mycotoxicosis manifests with diverse symptoms including acute death, immunosuppression, skin lesions, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and genotoxicity.
- The specific effects depend on the animal species, mycotoxin type, and ingested dose.
- Residues of mycotoxins and their metabolites can transfer to meat, milk, and eggs, posing a human health concern.
Conclusions:
- Mycotoxins represent a significant threat to animal health and welfare.
- Contamination of animal feed with mycotoxins has direct economic impacts on livestock production.
- Ensuring food safety requires monitoring and mitigating mycotoxin risks throughout the food supply chain.