Biochemical changes produced by Fusarium T-2 toxin in the chicken

Experimental pathology of T-2 toxicosis and mycoplasma infection on performance and hepatic functions of broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted using 192 day-old Ross 308 chicks, divided into 4 groups of 4 replicate consisting 48 birds. Group I was fed a control diet, Group II was fed control diet supplemented with 0.5 ppm T-2 toxin for 5 weeks, Group III was fed control diet supplemented with 8 × 10(8) cfu/mL of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and group IV was fed control diet supplemented by T-2 toxin and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Body weight and feed conversation ratio (FCR), relative organ weights, clinical signs, biochemical characteristics, and gross and histopathological lesions were recorded in the experimental groups at the end of the second and fifth weeks of age. Body weight and relative weights of bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen decreased and FCR increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05), but the relative weights of liver and kidney showed no significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the serum total proteins, albumin, and increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were observed in T-2 toxin and T-2 accompanied with Mycoplasma fed birds when compared to the control group. Liver was enlarged, friable, and yellowish discoloration with distended gall bladder was noticed. Lymphoid organs such as bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were atrophied in group II and group IV throughout the study. Microscopically, liver showed vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, with increased Kupffer cell activity, bile duct epithelial hyperplasia, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Kidney showed vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelium along with pyknotic nuclei. Lymphoid organs showed lymphocytolysis and depletion with prominent reticuloepithelial cells. Proventriculus revealed desquamation of villous epithelial cells and lymphoid infiltration in submucosa. Heart showed mild hemorrhage with infiltration of inflammatory cells. Lung showed edema and inflammatory cells in the bronchioles. Trachea showed desquamation and erosions of mucosa. Proliferation of mucosal glands with increased mucous secretion was obvious. Air sacs showed thickening with presence of inflammatory cells and edema.

Renal pathology of the fowl--a review

On the basis of published literature and some original observations a comprehensive review is presented of the current concept of renal diseases in the fowl. All aspects of this important but much neglected subject are considered including autolysis, intoxications, inflammatory and degenerative conditions, specific viral diseases, gout, congenital abnormalities and neoplasms. The aetiology and pathogenesis of some forms of avian kidney disease are well understood but there are large gaps in our knowledge on others.

Acute toxicity of T2 toxin in rats, mice, guinea pigs, and pigeons

The acute intravenous, intragastric, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intratracheal toxicity of T2 toxin has been studied in rats, mice, guinea-pigs, and pigeons. The acute LD50 values obtained varied between 1.0 and 14 mg X kg-1, there being little difference between the various routes in any given species. T2 caused vomiting in pigeons at doses of one fifth or less the LD50. In rats doses of 3.0 and 5.0 mg X kg-1 T2 produced lymphopenia, reticulocytosis, and in the highest dose groups normoblastaemia. Additionally, changes in plasma alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were seen. Histological changes were observed in lymphoid organs and were most severe in the thymus, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches. The spleen was less severely affected. Gastrointestinal changes consisting of dead and dying lymphoid cells throughout the lamina propria were seen together with, in some cases, mucosal ulceration. The time course of the development and of the reversal of the changes was followed.

T-2 toxin induced changes in liver and serum enzymes of rats

The effects on liver and serum enzymes of feeding a single dose (2 mg/kg) and daily doses (0.75 mg/kg) of T-2 toxin were studied in young male rats. Sample times were 8, 16 and 24 hr for single dose administration and 7, 14 and 21 days for daily dose administration. T-2 toxin in single and daily doses significantly reduced activities of hepatic glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline and acid phosphatases at all the sampling periods. In both feeding trials, levels of serum GPT increased, while that of acid and alkaline phosphatases significantly decreased at all the sampling times. This study indicates that the liver is affected by feeding T-2 toxin to rats.

LD50 values and serum biochemical changes induced by T-2 toxin in rats and rabbits

Experiments were conducted to study the acute and subacute effects of intramuscularly injected T-2 toxin in rats and rabbits. The LD50 values of T-2 toxin were 0.85 +/- 0.03 and 1.10 +/- 0.08 mg/kg body wt in rats and rabbits, respectively. The intoxication was characterized by a consistent decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity following either a single injection of 0.5, 0.6, or 0.9 mg/kg T-2 toxin in rats or daily injections of 0.2 mg/kg T-2 toxin for 10 days in rats and rabbits. Significant increases in bromosulfalein (BSP) retention and ALP activity were also observed in rabbits 24 hr following a single injection of 0.6 mg/kg T-2 toxin. The results indicated that the hepatobiliary system is a major target organ for T-2 toxin. Alterations in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) and in the hematocrit values were also observed.