The significance of mycotoxins in piglets is often underestimated due to their relatively small feed intake. However, mycotoxins can be transferred from sows to piglets via the placenta, and through colostrum and milk, which can have serious health implications.
Consider for example deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin, a frequently-occurring mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi, commonly found in cereals and grains. Pigs are more sensitive to DON than other species. The mode of the toxic action of DON is the inhibition of protein synthesis, thus primarily affecting rapidly dividing cells such as epithelial and immune cells.
Direct effects on the fetus, including embryo-fetal toxicity, fetal malformation, and developmental disorders following maternal DON exposure.
Piglets fed contaminated diets with DON experienced a greater reduction in weight gain compared with older animals. This may be associated with a reduced capacity for DON metabolism and detoxification in the liver and gastrointestinal tract in younger animals.
There is a positive correlation between the mycotoxin levels found in feed and in colostrum. For example, negative effects seen in piglets consuming colostrum with low doses of DON include:
Decrease villus height
Reduce mucosal integrity
Increased inflammation
Alternated immune response
The bottom line is that mycotoxins are a real and everyday risk to the immune quality of your piglets.
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