IMMUNOSUPPRESSION OF MYCOTOXINS IN FARM ANIMALS: REVIEWOF THE DATA OBTAINED IN PIGS

摘要

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites elaborated by filamentous fungi belonging mainly to the genus Aspergillus, Penicilium and Fusarium. They are produced on a wide variety of raw materials before, in the field or during harvest. Mycotoxins are very resistant to technological treatments, and can be present in foodstuffs intended for man and animals, where they present a wide spectrum of toxic effects. Most mycotoxins can also target the immune system that is primarily responsible for defense againstinvading organisms. Suppressed immune function by mycotoxins may eventually decrease resistance to infectious diseases, reactivate chronic infections and/or decrease vaccine and drug efficacy. The sensitivity of the immune system to mycotoxin-induced immunosuppression arises from the vulnerability of these continually proliferating and differentiating cells. Mycotoxin induced immunosuppression may be manifested as depressed T or B lymphocyte activity, suppressed antibody production and impaired macrophage/ neutrophil-effector functions. In this review we will summarize the data demonstrating the immunosuppressive effects of mycotoxin on pig and the consequences in terms of animal health.