Mycotoxins are chemical metabolites of fungi that cause a wide variety of harmful effects in poultry depending on the nature and concentration of toxins in the diet. kind of birds, age, nutritional status and health status of birds.
It has been consistently seen worldwide that the immune system is an important target of mycotoxins, causing adverse effects on the normal immune response, resulting in suppression of one or more immune functions. These immune failures predispose animals to severe vaccine reactions, low humoral or local antibody levels, and making animals more prone to bacterial and viral diseases.
Mycotoxins with the strongest effect on bird’s immune system include Aflatoxins, Ochratoxins, and the TrichothecenesGgroup (T-2).