Comparative aspects of Fusarium mycotoxicoses in poultry fed diets containing naturally contaminated grains

Fusarium mycotoxins are structurally diverse chemically distinct groups of fungal metabolites which are prevalent globally. Economically important Fusarium mycotoxins include trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins. Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin), and its acetylated forms, are the most commonly encountered trichothecenes in grains used for poultry feeds. Early experiments, conducted for short periods or using single purified compounds, showed that poultry were resistant to DON. More recent experiments, utilising naturally contaminated grains fed to poultry for extended durations, have shown that combinations of Fusarium mycotoxins pose significant risks to poultry performance and health. Turkeys appear to be more sensitive to Fusarium mycotoxicoses than chickens, while ducks have proven to be the most resistant poultry species. This review discusses various aspects of mycotoxicoses in poultry fed diets containing grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins.