Diagnosis > Dairy

Co-contamination and further mycotoxins

Contaminated feeds or ingredients typically contain more than one known and probably several unknown mycotoxins. The toxic responses and clinical signs observed in ruminants when more than one mycotoxin is present in feed are complex and diverse.

 

Co-contamination of mycotoxins appears to exert greater negative effects on health and productivity than single mycotoxins. For this reason, symptoms typical of mycotoxicosis are often seen in ruminants despite analyses of the feed indicating only very low concentrations of individual mycotoxins. Toxicity may be due to interactions between different mycotoxins that exaggerate the toxicity symptoms.

With mycotoxins the risk directly depends on the level of the major mycotoxins in the feed, the co-occurrence and level of other mycotoxins, the age of the animal and the health status. Therefore strictly speaking it is not possible to define safe levels of mycotoxins. This complex situation makes it necessary to take all relevant precautions.