title: T-2 toxin: incidence and toxicity in poultry.
abstract: T-2 toxin is the most toxic type A trichothecene mycotoxin. It is the secondary metabolite of the Fusarium fungi, and is common in grain and animal feed. Toxic effects have been shown both in experimental animals and in livestock. It has been implicated in several outbreaks of human mycotoxicoses. Toxic effects in poultry include inhibition of protein, DNA, and RNA synthesis, cytotoxicity, immunomodulation, cell lesions in the digestive tract, organs and skin, neural disturbances and low performance in poultry production (decreased weight gain, egg production, and hatchability). Concentrations of T-2 toxin in feed are usually low, and its immunosuppressive effects and secondary infections often make diagnosis difficult. If at the onset of the disease, a change in diet leads to health and performance improvements in animals, this may point to mycotoxin poisoning. Regular control of grain and feed samples is a valuable preventive measure, and it is accurate only if representative samples are tested. This article reviews the incidence and toxic effects of T-2 toxin in poultry.
authors.affiliation: Poultry Centre of the Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia. sokolm@hi.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sokolović
authors.forename: Verica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garaj-Vrhovac
authors.forename: Borka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simpraga
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013605:T-2 Toxin