fumonisin-b2 and Poultry-Diseases

Fumonisins are the most recently discovered group of mycotoxins with important implications in animal health. Equine leucoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema are diseases observed for many years, but their etiology was unknown. These 2 syndromes were recently reproduced experimentally after administration of purified fumonisin B1 (FB1). The main target organs for the toxic actions of FB1 are the brain in horses and the lungs in the case of swine. However, severe liver damage in both species and pancreatic lesions in swine are also observed, especially when Fusarium moniliforme culture material (FCM) or naturally contaminated corn are used as the source of the fumonisins. Experimentally induced fumonisin toxicosis has been studied in poultry and cattle using FCM or naturally contaminated corn or corn screenings as the mycotoxin source. Results have shown a much lower sensitivity of these species to the toxic action of fumonisins when compared to horses and pigs. However, adverse effects on performance parameters of broiler chickens and turkey poults and on selected immune parameters of chickens and cattle were reported. In order to confirm these observations, toxicological studies using purified fumonisins are required. Studies to determine the interaction of fumonisin with other Fusarium toxins and other mycotoxins are also needed. No studies on the toxicokinetics of fumonisins have been reported. The toxicodynamics (mechanism of action) of fumonisins appears to be a blockage in the synthesis of sphingolipids and thus constitute a unique toxicological action among the known mycotoxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Carcinogens, Environmental; Cattle; Encephalomalacia; Fumonisins; Horse Diseases; Horses; Mycotoxins; Poisoning; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; Pulmonary Edema; Structure-Activity Relationship; Swine; Swine Diseases

Three recently described and toxicologically important mycotoxins, fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), and fumonisin B3 (FB3), produced by Fusarium moniliforme in various grains, have been associated with a number of diseases in both humans and animals. The toxicity of purified FB1, FB2, and FB3, individually and in combination (3:1:1 ratio), were evaluated with regard to their embryo toxicity by injection of the toxins into the air cell of chicken eggs at 72 h of incubation. Under these conditions, FB1 at doses of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 microg per egg resulted in embryonic mortality of 5, 12.5, 17.5, 20.0, 52.5, 77.5, and 100%, respectively. The 50% lethal dose for FB1, when injected into the air cell of embryonating chicken eggs, was determined to be 18.73 microg per egg. A comparison of the toxicity of FB1, FB2, and FB3, individually and in combination (3:1:1 ratio), at doses of 16 microg of total fumonisin per egg, indicated that the toxicity of the fumonisins differed, FB1 being the most toxic. Microscopic examination of chicken embryos exposed to fumonisin did not reveal any gross developmental abnormalities; however, severe hemorrhages of the head, neck, and thoracic area of the dead embryos were evident.

Topics: Animals; Carboxylic Acids; Carcinogens, Environmental; Chick Embryo; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eggs; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Hemorrhage; Lethal Dose 50; Mortality; Mycotoxins; Poultry Diseases; Time Factors

Two hundred twenty-eight male chicks (Columbia x New Hampshire) were given feed amended with autoclaved culture material (CM) of Fusarium proliferatum Containing fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2) and moniliformin in 3 separate feeding trials. Purified FB1 and moniliformin were given separately and in combination in a fourth feeding trial. Birds were given amended rations at day 1 (Trial 1 and 4), day 7 (Trial 2), and day 21 (Trial 3) and their respective ration was given for 28 days (Trial 1), 21 days (Trial 2), 7 days (Trial 3), and 14 days (Trial 4). FB1 concentrations were 546, 193, and 61 ppm; FB2 were 98, 38 and 14 ppm; and moniliformin were 367, 193, and 66 ppm in the first 3 feeding trial regimens. Chicks in Trial 4 were given dietary concentrations of purified FB1 at 274 and 125 ppm, and moniliformin at 154 and 27 ppm. FB1 and moniliformin, both alone and in combination, produced dose-responsive clinical signs, reduced weight gains and mortality in chicks. Age of birds given amended feeds had little difference in the clinical response; however, those given the rations from days 7 or 21 were slightly less susceptible than those given rations beginning at 1 day of age. Additive effects were noted when the toxins were given in combination. When toxins were given separately, adverse effects took longer to occur. A system to monitor pattern and rate of defecation (RD) was developed for assessing the chicks' approach to feed, water and heat source as illness progressed. Our results indicate that chicks fed corn heavily infected with F. proliferatum under field conditions could suffer acute death similar to that described for 'spiking mortality syndrome' during the first 3 weeks of age.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Chickens; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cyclobutanes; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Male; Mycotoxins; Poultry Diseases; Weight Gain

One hundred eight fertile eggs (Columbia x New Hampshire) were assigned to 10 groups of 10 eggs each (2 control groups had 14 eggs each). Five groups of eggs were inoculated on day 1 of incubation, while the other 5 groups were inoculated on day 10. The inoculum of the 4 treatment groups on both day 1 and 10 consisted of 1,10, or 100 microM purified fumonisin B1 (FB1) or a culture material extract (CME) of Fusarium proliferatum, having known amounts of FB1, FB2 and moniliformin (FB1 20 microM; FB2 4 microM and moniliformin 7 microM). Inoculum consisted of the respective toxin(s) dissolved in 100 microliters double distilled, autoclaved water (diluent). Control eggs were inoculated with diluent only. Mortality was both dose- and time-responsive in all treatments. Eggs inoculated on day 1 with 1 microM FB1 had 50% mortality; 10 microM FB1 had 70% mortality; 100 microM FB1 had 100% mortality; and CME had 100% mortality. Eggs inoculated on day 10 with 1,10 or 100 microM FB1 or CME had 30, 60, 90 and 80% mortality, respectively. Normal chicks were hatched from all control eggs. The median death times (MDT50) were inversely dose-responsive in all treatments, ranging from 3.0 to 7.4 days in embryos exposed on day 1 and from 3.2 to 9.0 days in those exposed on day 10. Early embryonic changes in exposed embryos included hydrocephalus, enlarged beaks and elongated necks. Pathologic changes were noted in liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system, intestines, testes and brain toxin-exposed embryos.

Topics: Animals; Chick Embryo; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cyclobutanes; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Mycotoxins; Poultry Diseases