The Rural Voice, 1990-10, Page 16Get
Into
Hot Water
With 0%
Financing*
It's a great
opportunity to
upgrade your
water heater at
Superior Propane.
And pay
absolutely no
interest! Simply
make 12 equal
payments from the
date of purchase
for a term of one
year.* Choose
from any standard
30 -gallon, 40 -
gallon, or 50 -
gallon domestic
propane water
i • .-� heater from GSW,
Ruud/Rheen, or
GlowCore; instantaneous models from
Paloma; or the A. O. Smith "Side-
winder", a side wall power vent model,
ideal for energy efficient homes. Come
today to your local Superior Propane
Branch and get into some hot water.
Offer expires November 30, 1990.
•timing aedit approval.
Superior
Walkerton
Hwy. 9 W.
519-881-1270
Stratford
519-271-0810
1-800-265-4915
Owen Sound
Hwy. 70
519-376-6735
Goderich
519-524-2661
All models may not be available al all Branches.
While supplies last. Models shown may contain
options that are available at extra cost.
12 THE RURAL VOICE
DIAGNOSTICS
LIVESTOCK POISONING
DUE TO MYCOTOXINS (MYCOTOXICOSIS)
by Dr. A. J. REHMTULLA,
VETERINARY LABORATORY SERVICES
Mycotoxins are biochemical
substances produced during the
growth of certain fungi or molds in
feedstuffs, particularly grains and
oil seeds. Molds such as Aspergillus,
Penicillium, Fusarium and other genra
are capable of producing numerous
mycotoxins, but only five groups are
commonly implicated in livestock
poisoning.
1. Trichothecenes: produced by
Fusarium species of fungi, e.g., T2 -
Toxin, DAS (Diacetoxyscirpenol),
DON (Deoxynivalenol - also called
Vomitoxin)
2. Zearalenone (F2 -Toxin): produced
in corn by Fusarium graminearium
3. Ergot: produced by the fungus
Claviceps purpurea
4. Aflatoxins: produced by the mold
Aspergillus flavus
5. Ochratoxin: produced by As-
pergillus ochraceus and Penicillium
viridicatum
Of these, the last two groups
and T-2 and DAS in the first group
are relatively rare in Ontario and
hence of only minor importance here.
Molds are common and are found
everywhere. They survive in un-
favorable conditions in the form of
small spores which become readily
airborne. Mold growth depends upon
moisture, temperature and nutrients.
A high temperature (between 12 and
25 degrees Celsius), moisture content
exceeding 16 per cent and a relative
humidity of 75 per cent or more
stimulates rapid growth on good
nutritional sources such as livestock
feeds. This occurs most often during
storage of grain or corn, but the
Fusarium species tends to infect corn
before it is harvested. Conditions
ideally suited to mold growth are
not necessarily optimum for
mycotoxin production. Hence,
although mycotoxins are often
associated with damaged grains, the
presence or absence of molds is not a
valid indicator of mycotoxin content.
Disease results from the ingestion
of the preformed toxins, not from the
ingestion of the molds. Animals of
all ages are susceptible to mycotoxins,
but poultry are relatively resistant
compared to other domestic animals.
Clinical signs vary according to
species of livestock, type of my-
cotoxin ingested and level of
contamination.
Mycotoxicosis can be suspected
based on the herd history, clinical
signs, post mortem findings, and
absence of other diseases or
intoxications. A confirmatory
laboratory test (i.e., chemical analysis
of feedstuffs for specific mycotoxins)
is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
If a grain or feed is suspected of
causing mycotoxicosis, a sample
of at least 500 grams should be sent
to a laboratory. Such samples should
be properly collected and preserved.
Please remember that symptoms of
mycotoxicosis often appear several
weeks or even months after the
ingestion of suspect feed. It is
therefore imperative to collect the
sample and keep it frozen before the
need for chemical analysis becomes
necessary. When submitting samples,
please also include name and address
of owner and as complete a history
as possible of any symptoms and
lesions observed.
The most effective treatment is
the prompt removal of the con-
taminated feed source. There is no
medication available to cure or reverse
the effects of mycotoxins, except for
supportive therapy. When removal
of the contaminated feed is not
possible, a dilution method should be
applied whereby clean feed is used
together with the contaminated source
and the protein energy content of the
ration is increased. This feed should