Olga Averkieva, PhD, and Radka Borutova, DVM, PhD, at
Nutriad International, give us an insight into vaccination
practices against mycotoxins in swine. Mycotoxins
are fungal secondary metabolites detected in many
agricultural commodities, especially cereals. Pigs are

exposed to these toxins due to their high consumption of
cereals. The mycotoxins have different toxic effects, but
they all target the immune system. Ingestion of mycotoxincontaminated
feed can result in an increased susceptibility
to infectious diseases, a reactivation of chronic infection
and a decreased vaccine efficacy.