The natural state of the body’s immune system is the ability to fight diseases. When the immune system is failing to function properly, the body is prone to be more vulnerable to disease agents. It may also be an alarm that the body is in danger of undergoing Immunosuppression.

Immunosuppressive agents can damage the immune system by reducing its responsiveness to all foreign antigens. Not only humans, but Immunosuppression can also strike livestock in poultry, cattle, and aquaculture. Malnutrition, stress, bacteria, virus, and most importantly exposure to mycotoxins is what may cause immunosuppression in animals. 

How Mycotoxins Endanger Animal Health and Food Security

Not only Mycotoxins is dangerous to animal and human health, but they can also impact food security by reducing access to healthy food. The Food and Drug Organization (FAO) reported that at least 25% of the world’s food crops are contaminated with Mycotoxins.

Ingesting foods containing Mycotoxins can lead to Mycotoxicosis. The effect may vary depending on the number of toxins consumed, exposure period, and the age of the infected animals. Mycotoxicosis is chronic as a result of a small amount of toxin consumption over a long period of time, making it a silent killer for unsuspected animals. Especially since the diagnosis of the disease itself is quite difficult due to its unspecific clinical signs.

Monogastric and younger animals are generally more sensitive to Mycotoxins. Mycotoxicosis can reduce appetite, slow growth, damage the liver, decrease reproductive performance, and other health deteriorations. Even though it is not transmissible from one animal to the other, Mycotoxicosis outbreak is often seasonal due to the fungal growth and toxin production in particular climatic sequences.

There are several things that could be done to prevent and control Mycotoxins in livestock: routinely cleaning and refilling feeders with fresh food to prevent the growth of mold, discarding potentially contaminated products, and ensuring foods are properly stored.

Aside from that, using toxin binders such as Attapulgite and Bentonite can help you in maintaining the hygiene of the foods. The naturally-mined clay can help to absorb toxins, Mycotoxin included, with great uniformity, high heat stability, pH resistance, and efficacy.

The only way to have a guaranteed high-quality product is by keeping the livestock in its best shape possible. Click here to find your solution.