zearalenone and Poisoning

Dairy cows experience a negative energy balance at the onset of lactation which results in an enhanced vulnerability for infectious diseases. Any dietary imbalances, including Fusarium toxin contamination, might therefore exacerbate this situation. The aim of the present investigations was to study the effects of increasing dietary concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) on clinical-chemical, haematological and immunological traits up to week 14 of lactation. For this purpose, ten cows each were assigned to a control group (CON; 0.02 mg ZEN and 0.06 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM), toxin level 1 (TOX-1; 0.29 mg ZEN and 2.31 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM) and toxin level 2 (TOX-2; 0.58 mg ZEN and 4.61 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM). The measured values of most parameters were affected by parturition but only a few of them were further modified by dietary treatment. For example, the time-dependent decrease in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and erythrocyte counts occurred at a significantly higher level for group TOX-2 while a serum glucose increase was missing in this group. Proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ cells decreased significantly over time solely in group TOX-2 while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio remained uninfluenced. Ability of granulocytes to mount an oxidative burst tended to increase at the end of the study in groups TOX-1 and TOX-2 while the opposite was observed in group CON. The results of this time-limited study indicate that feeding of Fusarium-toxin contaminated diets in early lactation affects health related parameters without compromising milking performance. However, long-term consequences of the observed effects on health need to be addressed in further studies.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Glucose; Cattle; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Diet; Hemoglobins; Lactation; Lymphocyte Count; Poisoning; Trichothecenes; Zearalenone

The present feeding study was carried out to examine the effects of Fusarium toxin-contaminated diets on performance and slaughtering characteristics and on the transfer of the Fusarium toxins zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and their metabolites into physiological matrices. A total of 61 bulls (483 ± 46 kg) were fed with graded proportions of Fusarium toxin-contaminated feed over a period of 10 weeks. The total mixed rations (TMR) consisted of 47 % grass silage, 20 % press pulp silage, and 33 % concentrate on dry matter (DM) basis. Increasing toxin concentrations were achieved by the exchange of control maize with Fusarium toxin-contaminated maize in the concentrates. Thus, dietary toxin concentrations between 0.08 and 0.69 mg ZEN and 0.36 and 8.31 mg DON per kg DM were covered by the four feeding groups. Based on increasing DM intake with increasing mycotoxin contaminations of the diet, the live weight gain and energy intake differed significantly between the groups. No effects were observed on slaughtering characteristics and organ weights. ZEN, α-zeralenol, β-zeralenol (β-ZEL), zeralanone, α-zearalanol, β-zearalanol, DON, and de-deepoxy-DON (de-DON) were simultaneously determined in urine, plasma, and liquor whereby quantifiable concentrations of ZEN, β-ZEL, DON, and de-DON were found in urine, of DON and de-DON in plasma, and solely of de-DON in liquor. Based on overall results it can be concluded that current EU-guidance values for critical concentrations of DON and ZEN can be regarded as safe levels also for growing bulls. Urine and blood toxin residue levels can be used to assess exposure of bulls.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Structures; Animals; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Food Contamination; Male; Plasma; Poisoning; Trichothecenes; Urine; Zea mays; Zearalenone

For clinical interests it is advisable to subdivide cases of swine poisoning in such as caused by food, drugs and environmental poisonings. This division gives pointers to aetiologic connections and special measures necessary for the clearing of the processes. With food poisoning mycotoxicoses play an evermore important role, whereas poisonings by trace elements are on the decrease. Sodium chloride poisoning often results primarily from insufficient water supply. With environmental poisonings carbon monoxide and cyanamide intoxication are presented. Poisonings caused by drugs are mainly the result of an overdose, of segregation in food or of non-licensed drugs. A relatively unknown swine poisoning by a drug against coccidiosis--licensed for poultry--is described.

Topics: Aflatoxins; Animal Feed; Animals; Arsanilic Acid; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Copper; Cyanamide; Dinitolmide; Environment; Ergotism; Mercury Poisoning; Mycotoxins; Ochratoxins; Poisoning; Sodium Chloride; Swine; Swine Diseases; Trichothecenes; Zearalenone