Mycotoxins open the gate to infectious diseases

The direct impact of mycotoxins on animal health is well known by now. Less often discussed is their effect on the immune system, thus opening the gate to viruses. There are reasons for suspecting they have a role to play in PRRSv, PCV2 and PENS. Mycotoxins are structurally diverse secondary metabolites of fungi that grow on feedstuffs consumed by animals. Consumption of some mycotoxins, at levels that do not cause overt clinical mycotoxicosis, suppresses the immune functions and may decrease re