fumonisin-b2 and Swine-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

During the 1989 corn harvest season, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks and a pulmonary edema (PPE) syndrome in swine from several regions of the United States were received by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), Ames, Iowa. Previous and concurrent research linked Fusarium moniliforme and fumonisin-contaminated feeds to both diseases. Chemical and mycological investigations revealed fumonisin B1 (FB1) concentrations of 20 to 360 ppm in suspect swine feeds and 8 to 117 ppm in suspect equine feeds. Nonproblem feeds contained concentrations below 8 ppm. Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum were isolated from both problem and nonproblem equine and swine feeds. When cultured on autoclaved corn, the F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum isolated produced respective FB1 and fumonisin B2 (FB2) that range from less than 5 to more than 2450 ppm and less than 5 to more than 1000 ppm, respectively. Isolates from both problem and nonproblem feeds produces high levels (greater than 500 ppm) in culture. Reported here is a review of chemical and mycological data resulting from the study of several cases of PPE and ELEM.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Encephalomalacia; Food Microbiology; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Horse Diseases; Horses; Mycotoxins; Pulmonary Edema; Swine; Swine Diseases; Zea mays

From a series of experimental studies with pigs (12-16 kg), either pulmonary edema or liver failure emerged as a distinct pathogenetic expression of fumonisin B1 (FB1) toxicosis. The primary determinant as to which pathogenetic consequence developed was the quantity (dose) of the mycotoxin fed or intubated per kilogram of body weight per day. Pigs intubated with a minimum of 16 mg FB1/kg/day developed severe interlobular edema with or without hydrothorax and variably severe pulmonary edema. Pigs intubated with < 16 mg FB1/kg/day or pigs fed diets containing 200 mg FB1/kg of feed developed marked icterus and hepatocellular necrosis. The spectrum of degrees of severity of pulmonary edema observed in the experimental pigs allowed rational speculation regarding evolution of the pathologic changes.

Topics: Animals; Fumonisins; Liver Failure; Mycotoxins; Pulmonary Edema; Swine; Swine Diseases

Fumonisin is a recently identified mycotoxin that has been shown to be the cause of pulmonary edema disease in swine and leukoencephalomalacia in horses. Mystery Swine Disease (MSD), is an economically devastating disease complex of unknown etiology that has been reported to have occurred in several swine producing states since 1988. To determine the relationship between MSD and fumonisin, a case-control study was carried out in Illinois in mid-1990. Feed samples collected from 12 case and 9 control farms were analyzed for fumonisin. Sera from swine on all farms was screened for titers against encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and concentrations of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (an acute phase reactive protein). Fumonisin concentrations greater than or equal to 20 ppm were found on 1 control farm (1/9) and 8 case farms (8/12). Titers against EMC virus (greater than or equal to 1:16) were found on 5 control farms (5/9) and on 6 case farms (6/12). Farms with greater than or equal to 20 ppm fumonisin in the feed were at significantly increased risk (OR = 11.2, Fisher's exact test p = 0.037) for MSD. Furthermore, the pi2 test for trend was (p = 0.017), meaning that as the level of fumonisin in the feed increased, the risk of MSD also increased. The presence of EMC virus titers in the sow herd was not a significant risk for MSD (OR = 1.25, Fisher's exact test p = 0.75). Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein concentrations obtained from a 2-week old nursing pigs differed significantly (p = 0.0005) between MSD case and control herds.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Suckling; Antibodies, Viral; Case-Control Studies; Encephalomyocarditis virus; Female; Food Microbiology; Fumonisins; Illinois; Lactation; Mycotoxins; Orosomucoid; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Swine; Swine Diseases; Syndrome

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were observed in mature swine that died approximately 5 days after consuming corn screenings. These postmortem observations were reproduced in younger pigs that died within 1 week when fed the corn screenings under experimental conditions. Additionally, pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were induced in a pig that died after receiving 4 daily intravenous injections of fumonisin B1, a toxic metabolite produced by Fusarium moniliforme.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Food Microbiology; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Hydrothorax; Injections, Intravenous; Liver; Lung; Mycotoxins; Pulmonary Edema; Swine; Swine Diseases; Zea mays

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and FB2 were isolated from corn cultures of both Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum. Respective concentrations in culture materials of FB1 and FB2 ranged from 960 to 2,350 and 120 to 320 micrograms/g for F. moniliforme and from 1,670 to 2,790 and 150 to 320 micrograms/g for F. proliferatum. Thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid secondary ion mass spectroscopy were used for detection. Fumonisins from F. proliferatum have not previously been reported.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Disease Outbreaks; Encephalomalacia; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Horse Diseases; Horses; Mycotoxins; Pulmonary Edema; Swine; Swine Diseases; Zea mays