Molds and mycotoxins have a significant economic impact on the aquaculture industry. Previous articles have shared clinical symptoms caused by molds and mycotoxins; if you come across them, you can make appropriate judgments based on your own situation.

For farmers who only focus on raw materials, they can refer to on-site mold inspection methods to make their own assessments.

If professionals are interested in how mycotoxins harm the body, this article will help deepen their understanding of mycotoxins and effectively combine theory with practice to seek greater benefits for farmers.

The damage caused by mycotoxins to animals encompasses multiple aspects; this article summarizes the damage mechanisms specifically related to internal organs. The mechanisms of damage to animal internal organs by mycotoxins mainly cover the following areas:

Liver Damage Mechanisms:

1. Oxidative Stress: Mycotoxins can induce excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver, exceeding its own antioxidant defense capacity, leading to oxidative stress. ROS attack cell membranes, proteins, and DNA of liver cells, causing cellular damage and death.
2. Impact on Metabolic Enzyme Systems: They interfere with the activity and expression of enzymes involved in metabolic processes in the liver, such as the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, affecting drug metabolism and detoxification processes, thereby increasing the metabolic burden on the liver and leading to liver dysfunction.
3. Cell Apoptosis: Mycotoxins activate apoptosis signaling pathways within liver cells, prompting apoptosis and disrupting normal cellular structure and function.
4. Inflammatory Response: They induce the production of inflammatory cytokines in the liver, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), triggering inflammatory responses that exacerbate liver cell damage.

Kidney Damage Mechanisms:

1. Tubular Damage: Mycotoxins directly damage renal tubular epithelial cells, affecting their reabsorption and secretion functions, leading to electrolyte and acid-base imbalances.
2. Glomerular Damage: They disrupt the filtration barrier of the glomeruli, increasing glomerular permeability, which allows proteins and other large molecules to filter out, impairing kidney filtration functions.
3. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Similar to liver damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses can also be induced in the kidneys, further damaging renal tissues.

Heart Damage Mechanisms:

1. Cardiomyocyte Damage: Mycotoxins can directly lead to degeneration and necrosis of cardiomyocytes, affecting the contraction and relaxation functions of the heart.
2. Impact on Myocardial Energy Metabolism: They interfere with the energy generation and utilization in cardiomyocytes, such as inhibiting mitochondrial function, resulting in insufficient energy supply to the myocardium and affecting normal heartbeats.
3. Impact on Cardiac Electrical Activity: Mycotoxins may alter the ion channel functions of cardiomyocytes, leading to arrhythmias.

Lung Damage Mechanisms:

1. Damage to Alveolar Epithelial Cells: This affects the gas exchange functions of the alveoli, leading to respiratory dysfunction.
2. Induction of Inflammatory Response: Mycotoxins induce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lungs, releasing inflammatory mediators that damage lung tissue.
3. Impact on Pulmonary Vasculature: They damage the endothelial cells of pulmonary blood vessels, leading to increased vascular permeability and pulmonary edema.

In summary, mycotoxins cause damage to the internal organs of animals through various complex mechanisms, severely affecting their health and vital activities.