ANITHA, N2019-07-052019-07-052007http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810112607Poultry industry is one among the rapidly growing agri-based business in our country. In nature, there exists thousands of toxins that have potential adverse health effects in human and livestock including poultry. One among such toxins that are universally contaminating the food and feedstuffs are the mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are diverse groups of chemicals that elicit a wide range of toxic responses in animals and humans. Pre or post harvest contamination of various food crops by toxigenic fungi is a common problem, approximately 25% of the worlds food supply is contaminated by mycotoxins annually. Excessive moisture in the field and in storage, temperature extremes, humidity, drought, variations in harvesting practices and insect infestations are major environmental factors that influence the formation and severity of mycotoxin contamination.Thesis