How to prevent and treat aflatoxin poisoning in deer
Aflatoxin poisoning is a fungal toxin poisoning disease shared by humans and animals and is seriously harmful. It mainly attacks the liver, causing bleeding, digestive dysfunction and neurological symptoms as its features, and it has carcinogenic effects.
[Cause]: Because feed is poorly kept and stored, or because it rains for a long time during the grain harvest period, the grain spoils, and some toxic molds (such as Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium) often parasitize it, leading to mildew. Eating a large amount of this kind of feed can cause poisoning. Among them, Aspergillus flavus is relatively strong in toxicity, and deer are even more likely to be poisoned after eating this kind of moldy feed.
[Symptoms]: This disease generally has a chronic course. Sick deer show listlessness and dull responses. Sometimes they hang their heads and stand blankly, as if in a stupor, and when any part of the skin is touched, they feel very sensitive. They are unwilling to move, and when forced to walk, their gait is unsteady, and sometimes they are excited and restless. The eyes are dry and photophobic, with tearing, gradually turning into visual impairment, which can occur in one eye or in both eyes. There is anorexia, and rumination and gastric motility decrease, showing symptoms of rumen atony. There is intermittent diarrhea, and the feces may contain blood and mucus, or diarrhea and constipation may alternate. Sometimes there is ascites, severe dehydration, the coat is coarse and standing on end, and the deer rapidly become emaciated. Some sick deer have edema under the jaw, on the front chest and on the limbs. Deer abortion or weak vitality of fawns can also occur.
[Prevention]: The main thing is not to let the feed become moldy. During feed harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, attention should be paid to the keeping and moisture-proofing of every link. Also check frequently, and if there are signs of mildew, turn and dry it as early as possible; feed with severe mildew should be destroyed; feed should be purchased according to plan, so that it is bought and fed immediately. Prevent long-term piling up.
[Treatment]: Once it is found that deer have been poisoned by eating moldy feed, the moldy feed should be stopped immediately; treat the poisoned deer, mainly by eliminating toxins and detoxifying. 200-300 grams of artificial salt can be given with water by oral drench, or laxatives such as magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate can be used; and 500-1000 milliliters of 50% glucose injection, 1000-2000 milliliters of compound sodium chloride solution, with 0.5-1.0 gram of vitamin C added, can be injected intravenously; as a cardiotonic, 20-30 milliliters of 25% nikethamide injection can be injected intramuscularly, or 30 milliliters of 10% sodium camphorsulfonate injection can be injected intramuscularly; as a sedative, 250-500 milligrams of chlorpromazine hydrochloride injection can be injected intramuscularly, or 200-300 milliliters of 10% sodium bromide or calcium bromide can be injected intravenously. In order to control secondary infection, antibiotics may be used as appropriate, but sulfonamide drugs must absolutely not be used.