Occurrence: Worldwide. Species affected: Chickens, turkeys, layers and breeders. Age affected: All.

Causes: Consumption of feed containing grains infected with fungi producing tricothecene mycotoxins. T-2 toxin; diacetoxyscirphenol (DAS) and deoxynivelanol (DON, vomitoxin) can be produced by the fungi Fusarium trichinctum, F. calonectria, F. gibberella, F. cephalosporium and F. trichoderma.

Effects: Feed refusal, impaired growth, uneven and poorly formed feathers, vomiting. Thin-shelled eggs, reduced egg production, facial swelling, caustic injury to skin, cyanotic (blue-coloured) combs and wattles, seizures and tremors may be seen.

Chickens, turkeys, layers and breeders of all ages are susceptible to this acute to chronic disease. The severity of the disease depends on the dosage of toxin (higher-acute), age of bird (young birds have acute, older have chronic), and duration of exposure (longer periods cause chronic toxicosis). Consumption of feed containing grains infected with fungi producing trichothecenes toxins cause the disease. The following trichothecenes: T-2, diacetoxyscirphenol (DAS) and deoxynivalenal (DON or vomitoxin) can be produced by Fusarium trichinctum, F. calonectria, F. gibberella, F. cephalosporium and F. trichoderma.

Feed contaminated with trichothecenes toxins, which are very caustic. It can occur in corn, sorghum, barley, safflower, seed, oats and brewers grain.

T-2 toxin is the most common and pathogenic of the trichothecenes.

Signs include off feed, impaired growth, uneven and poorly formed feathers, and emesis (vomiting). Thin shelled eggs, reduced egg production, swelling of the face, caustic injury to skin, cyanotic (blue-coloured) combs and wattles, seizures and tremors may be seen.

Whitish to yellow focal nodules in base of mouth, near the salivary ducts and tongue can occur. An inflamed GI tract, atrophy of bursa and thymus, necrosis of gizzard and proventriculus, dermatitis on the toes, pale or yellow bone marrow, yellow hemorrhagic liver and gout can also be seen.

Feed analysis for toxins and feed refusal in many farm animals is diagnostic. It simulates wet pox, vitamin A deficiency, thrush, trichomoniasis, ochra and aflatoxicosis, IBD and visceral gout.

Prevention is the same as for the other Mycotoxins, including mould inhibitors and use of dry grain only. Mouldy grains should never be added to feed.

The treatment is the same as for other mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin. Increasing the protein content of feed by 1%, increasing vitamin and mineral content of feed and adding gentian violet* to feed have a sparing effect on aflatoxin-induced disease.

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