It has been my experience in an academic environment that mycotoxicoses are generally thought to be exclusively a large animal
problem. It is true that equine and food animal practitioners do encounter mycotoxin-related issues more commonly than their
small animal colleagues, because of the grain- and forage-based diets that livestock consume. However, there are certainly
mycotoxicoses with which small animal practitioners should be familiar, especially if contaminated grain byproducts are inadvertently
incorporated into a commercial diets, purchased pet food is improperly stored, homemade "vegetarian" diets are improperly
prepared, or animals are allowed to roam free and come into contact with garbage and compost piles.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary fungal metabolites, which are generally produced sporadically by certain species of fungi,
growing on grains or other matrices of plant origin under specific environmental conditions. Moisture, temperature, pH, and
plant stressors can all contribute to the production of mycotoxins. Acute exposures to high doses of fungal toxins can be
associated with disease and or death. Chronic exposures to lower mycotoxin doses can be associated with the slower onset of
clinical signs and/or ambiguous clinical signs, such as lethargy and failure to thrive.
It has been estimated that 200,000 to 3,000,000 secondary fungal metabolites are possible and that approximately 10% of those
metabolites can be classified as toxic. At the present time, only 6,000 secondary fungal metabolites have been identified,
and less than 500 of those are considered to be toxic. We are still seeing just the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to
mycotoxins. We probably have a fairly good grasp of the adverse health effects of high doses of the more common mycotoxins,
but health problems associated with long-term exposures to lower doses of these fungal toxins have yet to be fully appreciated.
Mycotoxins of clinical relevance to small animals
Aflatoxins
•
Most common mycotoxins produced in raw agricultural commodities worldwide
•
Produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in CORN, peanuts, and cottonseed, as well almonds, pistachios, Brazil nuts, spices, figs, copra, pecans, walnuts, raisins,
and, even, coconuts
• Conditions of plant stress (drought) followed high moisture (>14%) and elevated temperature (>25° C) favor aflatoxin
production.
•
Classified as Polycyclic Furans
•
Include Aflatoxin B1 (predominant and most toxic), Aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1, and Aflatoxin G2 in grains and Aflatoxin
M1 in milk urine and, potentially, tissue
• Aflatoxin B1 is metabolized in the liver to at least 7 metabolites, with Aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide being highly electrophilic
and capable of damaging macromolecules.
• Aflatoxins are generally hepatotoxic, as well as carcinogenic, and cause reductions in feed intake weight gain, milk
production, hemorrhage, fertility, and immune system function.
• Dogs and cats appear to be susceptible to pet food concentrations >100 to 300 ppb.
• FDA "action level" for Aflatoxins is 20 ppb for dogs and cats.
•
Diagnosis is based on evidence of liver damage and the detection of Aflatoxins in pet food and, possibly liver
• Therapy involves removal from source, prevention of absorption, increased elimination, and supportive care, including
administration of antioxidants.
• Postmortem changes include pale, fatty liver, hepatocyte degeneration, biliary hyperplasia, interlobular fibrosis,
and hepatic tumors.
Trichothecenes
•
Produced by Fusarium species and other genera growing on wheat, corn, barley, and oats
• Cool, wet weather during the flowering and seed development stages favor trichothecene production.
•
Classified as Sesquiterpene Lactones and divided into Class A (T-2, HT-2, and DAS, Class B (Vomitoxin or DON), Class
C (Satratoxin produced by Stachybotrys) and Class D (Crotocin)
• Tricothecenes are extremely potent inhibitors of protein synthesis and interfere with the initiation, elongation,
and termination phases of translation, as well as various stages of DNA and RNA synthesis.
•
Vomitoxin (Deoxynivalenol or DON) is produced by Fusarium graminearum (roseum) and is the most common but least toxic
of trichothecenes (usually associated feed refusal, vomiting, diarrhea, and immunomodulation
• Vomiting was initially induced in dogs and cats exposed to dietary levels of DON between 4 and 10 ppm.
• In dogs, feed intake is reduced with dietary levels of DON >4.5 ppm, and similar reductions in feed intake are observed
in cats with dietary levels of DON >7.7 ppm.
• FDA "action level" for DON is 2 ppm for dogs and cats.
• Diagnosis is based on the detection of DON in pet food, vomitus, or stomach contents.
• Therapy involves removal from source, prevention of absorption, increased elimination, and supportive care.
