Ochratoxicosis in poultry: occurrence, environmental factors, pathological alterations and amelioration strategies

SUMMARY

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites, and some important groups of mycotoxins are aflatoxins, ochratoxins, ergot alkaloids, citrinin, patulin and fusarium, which include trichothecenes, fumonisins and zearalenone. Ochratoxins are one of the most lethal mycotoxins; specifically, Ochratoxins A (OTA), which is perilous to the productivity and wellbeing of poultry birds. Ochratoxin species tend to grow in warmer climates such as Aspergillus ochraceous as well as colder climates such as Penicillium verrucosum. It has been known to cause toxicity in broilers and layers more as compared to aflatoxins. Its toxicological profile designates it as carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, teratogenic, immunotoxic and mutagenic. It is also a potential hazard for human health when animal-derived commodities are consumed. The presence of ochratoxins within poultry feed has undesirable influences on the growth and quality of the final product in the form of eggs and meat. Moreover, ochratoxins cause economic losses by affecting productive performance and lead to histopathological changes in the organs of birds, negatively affecting the bird’s health. Some agents such as vitamins E and C, silymarin, activated charcoal, distillery yeast sludge and indigenous mycotoxin binders were used to reduce the effects of OTA toxicity on poultry. This review comprehensively explains the ochratoxins, the environmental factors responsible for their occurrence and their persistence as a major threat to poultry production as well as potential ameliorative strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycotoxins
• food
• poultry health
• climatic factors

Availability of data and materials

The Review Manuscript has been made by collecting and analyzing the data of research manuscripts from Google Scholar and Open Access sources.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.

Notes on contributors

Muhammad A. Tahir

Muhammad Ali Tahir is currently working as a Visiting Lecturer in Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan. He recently graduated in MPhil in Pathology. He worked in HEC-NRPU funded project as a Research Assistant at Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan. He has expertise in Poultry Pathology.

Asghar Abbas

Asghar Abbas is working as Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan. He has Expertise in Veterinary Parasitology.

Muhammad Muneeb

Muhammad Muneeb is recently graduated in MPhil in Pathology from Department of Pathology, University of Agriculture in Faisalabad. He has expertise in Poultry Pathology.

Rana M. Bilal

Rana Muhammad Bilal Department of Animal Nutrition Faculty of veterinary and animal sciences, The Islamia university of Bahawalpur Pakistan is working in both Ruminant and avian nutrition. His major field is use of probiotics specially yeast in animal nutrition.

Kashif Hussain

Kashif Hussain is working as Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan. He has Expertise in Veterinary Parasitology.

Abdel-Moneim E. Abdel-Moneim

Abdel-Moneim E. Abdel-Moneim, Assistant Professor of poultry physiology at eBiological Application Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Abu-Zaabal, Egypt; The author or coauthor of some book chapters and articles (research and review) since 2015.

Mayada R. Farag

Mayada R. Farag, Assistant Professor of forensic and toxicology at Zagazig University. According to the classification of Stanford University, her name was listed in the list of Top 2% scientists (2019-2020). He is an editorial member of Advances in Animal and Veterinary Science.

Kuldeep Dhama

Kuldeep Dhama, M.V.Sc., Ph.D. (Gold Medalist), NAAS Associate, Fellow Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM, UK), FWRA, Principal Scientist, Division of Pathology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar-243 122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is editor and associate editor of some reputed journals.

Shaaban S. Elnesr

Shaaban S. Elnesr, Assistant Professor of Poultry physiology at Fayoum University. He published about 10 book chapters and 72 articles (research and review) since 2008.

Mahmoud Alagawany

Mahmoud Alagawany, Assistant Professor of Poultry Nutrition at Zagazig University. According to the classification of Stanford University, his name was listed in the list of Top 2% scientists (2019-2020). He is associate editor of Frontiers in Physiology, Revista Electronica De Veterinaria and Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia. The author or coauthor of 13 book chapters, also he has been published 200 articles (research and review) since 2008.