**3. Combined mycotoxins**

*2.4.1. Micotoxicosis produced by trichothecenes*

96 Ruminants - The Husbandry, Economic and Health Aspects

that makes the animals more sensitive to pathogen agents.

sis, affliction of the gastrointestinal tract, immune system depression.

duction and absence of estrus cycles in cows [43, 54].

**2.5. Fusariotoxicosis**

paralysis of the hindquarters.

duration of toxin ingestion, it results in gastroenteritis, ulcers and death [53].

Trichothecenes produce a large variety of gastrointestinal disorders such as: vomiting, diarrhea, dermic inflammation or irritation, abortion, hemorrhages and immunosuppression.

Immunosuppression generated by trichothecenes is realized through a complex mechanism

Deoxynivalenol (DON) or vomitoxin has a reduced impact on dairy cattle, clinical signals being associated between DON contamination of fodder and reduced performances in dairy herds, especially the reduction of milk production. A Canadian study on 18 first-lactation cows during mid-lactation, showed that the production of milk reduced with 13% or 1.4 kg when the cows consumed food contaminated with DON 2.6–6.5 ppm [48]. Meat cattle and sheep tolerated a diet with 21 ppm DON without visible effects on the health state or production [52]. Among the general effects of DON on the organism, we mention: inhibitor of protein synthe-

T-2 toxin is found in a relatively lower proportion in fodder compared to other trichothecenes, under 10% and, in general, data related to its effect on ruminant health are reduced. T-2 toxin reduces ingestion, lowers production and affects reproduction; depending on dosage and

The hemorrhagic syndrome can be either absent although gastrointestinal injuries are produced as presented by Weaver et al. or present, combined with reduced ingestion, milk pro-

Fusariotoxicosis is a mycotoxicosis that manifests itself through a complex of clinical symptoms and injuries to the digestive and genital apparatuses, central and hematopoietic nervous

*Etiologic agent.* Fuzariotoxicosis is produced by the mycotoxins ZEA and DON developed by

Contamination sources are represented by cereals contaminated with *Fusarium*, most affected being corn grains. Development of *Fusarium* fungi is favored by high temperatures of 24–27°C,

This ecologic characteristic explains the higher incidence of the mycotoxicosis in autumn or

*The toxic form* begins at 5–6 hours from the consumption of contaminated fodder, with 1–4 days of evolution. It is manifested through salivation, chills, accelerated pulse and breathing, rumen hypotonia, teeth screeching. Clinically, we can also observe: loss of appetite, deviation, photophobia, arrhythmia, cutaneous hyposensitivity, exophthalmia, diarrhea, paresis,

*The estrogenic form* is rarely seen at taurines and is manifested through parturition and puerperal complications, metritis consequence of retained placenta, uterine involution, abortions,

system and of the blood, provoked by different toxins from some *Fusarium* species.

*F. graminearum* as well as other *Fusarium* species such as *F. nivale* and *F. tricinctum*.

while the development of ZEA is favored by lower temperatures, of 12–14°C.

fall, when humidity is high and low and high temperatures alternate [29].

105 samples of fodder were analyzed, of which 75 samples of concentrated feed (cereal grains, wheat and maize bran, peas, sunflower and soybean meal) and 30 samples of fodder feeds from 5 family dairy farms in Southern Romania. The mycotoxicologic analysis was performed by the ELISA immunoassay test for AF, OTA, DON, ZEA and T-2.

In the 105 feed samples analyzed, in descending order, OTA was identified in a proportion of 63.80% (67 samples), T-2 in a proportion of 40.90% (43 samples), AF, ZEA and DON in a proportion of 39.0% (41 samples). By mycotoxin categories, in descending order, the maximum admissible limit in the 105 feed samples analyzed was exceeded in proportion of 40.95% for T-2 (43 samples), 33.30% for ZEA (35 samples) and 9.52% (2 samples) for OTA.

According to categories of feed, in descending order of the 30 analyzed fodder feed samples, the following were determined: 66.60% (20 samples) OTA, 36.60% (11 samples) ZEA, 33.30% (10 samples) DON, 26.6% (8 samples) T-2; in the concentrated feed analyzed, OTA was identified in proportion of 62.66% (47 samples), AF in proportion of 54.60% (41 samples), T-2 in proportion of 46.60% (35 samples), DON in proportion of 41.30% (31 samples) and ZEA in proportion of 40.00% (30 samples).

Of 105 analyzed feed samples, in decreasing order, 29.50% (31 samples) had two mycotoxins, 27.60% (29 samples) had three mycotoxins, 23.80% (25 samples) had one mycotoxin, 9.25% (10 samples) had four mycotoxins, 5.71% (6 samples) had no mycotoxins, and 2.85% (3 samples) had five mycotoxins.

Of the 25 samples with a mycotoxin, in decreasing order, the incidence was 9.52% (10 samples) for OTA, 4.76% (5 samples) for T-2, 3.80% (4 samples) for AF and ZEA and 1.90% (2 samples) for DON.

Of the 31 samples with two mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 6.66% (7 samples) for AF + OTA combination, 5.71% (6 samples) for OTA + T-2 combination, 4.76% (5 samples) for OTA + DON and AF + T-2 combination, 3.80% (4 samples) for OTA + ZEA combination and 0.95% (1 samples) for ZEA + DON; ZEA + T-2; DON + T-2 and AF + ZEA combination.

mycotoxin-biotransforming agents: gram-positive anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, gram-negative aerobic bacteria, fungi, yeast, enzymes (e.g. *Flavobacterium aurantiacum* for aflatoxins, *Eubacterium* BBSH 797 and LS100 for trichothecene, and for OTA and ZEA, *Trichosporum mycotoxinivorans*; protease A, pancreatin etc) [58]. Galvano et al. have shown that an increase in the level of some nutritional parameters in food – protein, energy and antioxidants, mineral and vitamins can be beneficial to animal health by mitigating the harmful effects of mycotoxins [59].

Dairy Cows Health Risk: Mycotoxins http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72709 99

The increase and diversification in the production of fodder, particularly cereal, through new technologies has direct consequences on the change in their chemical composition and, implicitly, over the growth and development of fungi before the harvest, during the transportation or during the storage of fodder. Moldy feed has reduced palatability, which certainly determines reduced ingestion and implicitly a drop in milk production and, afterwards, in corporeal weight. There are unanimously accepted losses of 5–10% of the performances of milk cows under the condition that they ingested fungi contaminated fodder, irrespective of the latters' contamination with mycotoxins. Mold growth and mycotoxin production are strongly linked with the action of certain predisposing factors such as extreme weather conditions (draught followed by rain, for example), the favoring action of harmful insects and can be produced in the field, during transport, processing or even while the fodder is administrated to the animal. The risk of affecting the health of ruminants due to the action of mycotoxins is much larger compared to that of the action of fungi. Among the mycotoxins that can affect the health of milk cows and, implicitly the reduction in production, aflatoxins are certainly the most aggressive. The risk is proportionally higher with their metabolites, as aggressive as them, reaching

**5. Conclusions**

**Author details**

**References**

21527:-2:ed-1:v1:en

Violeta-Elena Simion

the milk production and affecting human health.

Address all correspondence to: simion.violeta.elena@gmail.com

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania

[1] Bell C, Neaves P, Williams AP. Food Microbiology and Laboratory Practice. Oxford: Blackwell; 2005. p. 324. Available from: https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:

[2] Beuchat LR. Media for detecting and enumerating yeast and moulds. In: JEL C, GDW C, Baird RM, editors. Handbook of Culture Media for Food Microbiology. Amsterdam:

Of the 29 samples with three mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 6.66% (7 samples) for OTA + ZEA + DON combination, 3.80% (4 samples) for OTA + DON + T-2; AF + OTA + DON and OTA + ZEA + T-2; 2.85% (3 samples) for AF + ZEA + T-2 and 1.90% (2 samples) for AF + OTA + ZEA; AF + DON + T-2 and AF + OTA + T-2 combination.

Of the 10 samples with four mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 3.80% (4 samples) for AF + OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination; 2.85% (3 samples) for AF + OTA + DON + T-2 combination; 1.90% (2 samples) for OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination, and 0.95% (1 sample) for AF + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination.

Of the three samples with five mycotoxins, the incidence was 2.85% (3 samples) for AF + OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination.
