REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS DUE TO F2 AND T-2 TOXINS IN LARGE-SCALE PIG FARMS

Role of F-2 and T-2 fusariotoxins was studied during the diagnostic ex amination of reproductive disorders, endangering the rentability of la rge-scale farms operated with 300 to 2000 sows, under practical condit ions. Of the 23 farms investigated, the cause of reproduction disorder s could be traced back for the mycotoxin contamination of feeds fed on 11 farms. Of them, it could be concluded that F-2 and T-2 toxins and analogous compounds played a significant role in the development of lo sses on 7 and 4 farms, respectively. When the feeds were contaminated with F2 toxin (zearalenone) the rate of fertility worsened in sows and gilts and the culling rate of sows due to infertility increased. At t he same time, increased the number of stillborn piglets and decreased the average litter size. Number of farrowings 2 to 4 days before the e xpected time became more frequent. Clinical symptoms of oestrogenic sy ndrome in newborn piglets (swelling and edematic infiltration of vulva , perineal region and teats, erythema of vulva and later on, exudative -necrotic inflammation of the skin of teats), as well as the symptoms of splay leg could frequently be observed. Besides the signs of ovulat ion in the ovaria, the enlargement of uterus (Fig. 1), expressed edema tic infiltration of the mucosa of internal sexual tracts, indicating a long-lasting estrogenic effect (Fig. 2), degenerative and necrotic ti ssular changes (Figs 3 and 4 and functional asynchrony could also be d emonstrated between the state of endometrium and ovarium in connection with that. In case of the contamination of feeds with T-2 and other t richothecene toxins, also worsened the ration of fertilization of gilt s and sows and increased the number of culled sows due to infertility without any other clinical symptoms. Pathomorphologic examination of g enitalia of culled and emergency slaughtered sows revealed a state ind icating the ceasing of cyclic estrous and degeneration of the follicul ar substance (Figs 5 and 6), accompanied with the atrophy of uterus an d endometrium (Fig. 7). On such farms where the signs of oestrogenic s yndrome were present, besides zearalenone, small amounts of trichothec ene toxins (T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol) also could be demonstrated in t hree cases.