What to Do About Aflatoxin Poisoning in Pigs? Detailed Treatment Methods

Aflatoxin poisoning in pigs is a toxic disease characterized by liver damage, caused by pigs eating feed contaminated with aflatoxin.

Cause: Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, and it is not easily destroyed in the external environment. Ordinary heating and boiling cannot decompose the toxin (B1 toxin is only decomposed when heated to 268°C-269°C). It is a liver-cancer-causing substance. Aspergillus flavus is widely distributed in nature and readily parasitizes and reproduces in corn, peanuts, rice, wheat grains, as well as cottonseed cake, soybean cake, bran, and rice bran, producing toxins and causing general grains and their by-products to become moldy and deteriorate. At present, people in many regions of our country are accustomed to using moldy, deteriorated grain or food that is unfit for human consumption to feed pigs. Pigs that eat this moldy, deteriorated feed will be poisoned. Because pig feed contains different grains and rich nutrients, improper storage can also lead to contamination by Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus flavus reproduces most readily at a temperature of 24°C-30°C. In grains and grain and oil processing by-products, if the moisture content reaches 20%-30%, it reproduces fastest. When the relative temperature most suitable for Aspergillus flavus reproduction is 30°C, Aspergillus flavus is one of the main molds in corn. When corn has a moisture content of 16.2%-24.4% and is stored at room temperature, Aspergillus flavus is the most predominant mold.

Clinical symptoms: In acute cases, pigs may suddenly die during movement, or die within two days after onset. Sick pigs are listless, completely lose appetite, become weak, walk unsteadily, have pale mucous membranes, normal body temperature, dry feces, and rectal bleeding. Some stand in a corner or press their head against a wall, standing motionless. In chronic cases, pigs are listless, walk stiffly, chew on tiles and soil; they stay apart from the group, with head down and back arched, abdomen tucked in, and dry feces. Some sick pigs show excitement and restlessness, running and jumping about wildly. Mucous membranes are yellow-stained, body temperature is normal, and a few sick pigs have reddening of the skin around the eyes and nose, gradually turning blue.

Pathological changes: In acute cases, anemia and hemorrhage occur, with massive bleeding in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and petechial spots often on serous membrane surfaces. Subcutaneous muscle hemorrhage occurs in front of the thighs and under the shoulder blades. The liver is enlarged with bleeding points. The part of the liver adjacent to the serous membrane has pinhead-sized or ecchymotic hemorrhages. Obvious hemorrhages are commonly seen on the epicardium and endocardium, and systemic muscle hemorrhage is common. In chronic cases, there is proliferation and hardening of the liver bile ducts, yellow fatty degeneration of the liver, white spots or necrotic lesions on the liver surface, and effusion in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The renal cavity is pale and swollen. Systemic lymph nodes are congested and edematous.

Prevention: Persistently not feeding moldy feed is the fundamental preventive measure. Preventing feed from becoming moldy is also an important part of prevention.

1. After grains mature, harvest them in time, dry them thoroughly, and store them in a ventilated place to avoid mold.

2. Strengthen the storage management of feed and pay attention to keeping it dry, especially in warm and rainy areas or seasons, and even more attention should be paid to preventing feed from becoming moldy.

3. Do not use moldy, deteriorated grain or food to feed pigs.

4. Once pigs are found to be poisoned, immediately stop feeding the moldy feed and switch to fresh feed.

5. For slightly moldy grain feed, soak it in 3 times the amount of clean water for one day and one night, then replace with an equal amount of clean water and soak again, repeating this 3-4 times in succession. Most of the toxin can be leached out by the clean water, then take it out and dry it in the sun before using it as feed. If 10% lime water is used instead of clean water for soaking, the detoxification effect is even better.

Treatment: Currently there is no effective antidote, so only symptomatic treatment can be used. For adult pigs, intravenously inject 60 mL of 25% glucose injection plus 10 mL of vitamin C, for 3-4 consecutive days. Boil 50 g of mung beans and 20 g of licorice in water, put it into the water trough and let the pigs drink it freely. At the same time, mix white sugar into the feed, 20 g per pig, twice a day, for 7-10 consecutive days. This has a certain auxiliary effect.