Evaluation of the supplementation of a feed additive as a potential protector against the adverse effects of 2. 5 ppm T-2 toxin on growing broiler chickens / Avaliação da suplementação de um aditivo alimentar como um protetor potencial contra os efeitos adversos de 2, 5ppm de toxina T-2 em frangos em crescimento

A trial was conducted to evaluate a feed additive containing epoxidase activity from a bacterium (Mycofix-S) as a potential protection against the adverse effects of 2.5 ppm dietary T-2 toxin in male growing broiler chickens. A total of 144 one-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were individually wing-banded and allotted into each of the four experimental groups. Group 1: negative control, no T-2 toxin or additive; group 2: Mycofix-S, 2.5 g/kg; group 3: positive control, 2.5 ppm T-2 toxin; group 4: 2.5 ppm T-2 toxin + 2.5 g/kg Mycofix-S. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 28 days (days 1 to 28 of age). Each experimental treatment was replicated 6 times, with 6 birds per replicate pen. Response variables included performance parameters, serum activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and amylase, relative weight of selected organs and histology of the upper digestive system. T-2 toxin at 2.5 ppm significantly (P = 0.016) decreased the 28-day body weight gain and cumulative feed intake without affecting feed conversion. The feed additive counteracted these adverse effects. Serum enzyme activities were not significantly (P>0.05) affected for the four experimental groups but when data from the groups receiving T-2 toxin was pooled and compared against the pooled data from groups without the toxin a significant decrease in amylase activity was observed in chickens receiving T-2 toxin. The histological examination of the upper digestive system revealed lesions in mouth, esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard and duodenum in the chickens fed T-2 toxin without the additive. Chickens fed T-2 toxin plus the additive showed lesions in the same tissues except in the duodenum. The results of the present study show that the addition of 2.5 g/kg of the feed additive tested protects against adverse effects on performance and also the integrity of the duodenal mucosa.(AU)

Foi realizado um experimento com o objetivo de avaliar um aditivo alimentar contendo atividade de epoxidase de uma bactéria (Mycofix-S) como proteção potencial contra os efeitos adversos de uma dieta com 2,5ppm de toxina T-2 em frangos de corte machos. Um total de 144 pintos machos Ross 308 de um dia de idade foram marcados na asa individualmente e alocados em um de quatro grupos experimentais: grupo 1: controle negativo, sem toxina T-2 ou aditivo; grupo 2: 2,5g/kg de Mycofix-S; grupo 3: controle positivo, 2,5ppm de toxina T-2; grupo 4: 2,5ppm de toxina T-2 + 2,5g/kg de Mycofix-S. Alimento e água foram fornecidos ad libitum por 28 dias (dias um a 28 de idade). Cada tratamento experimental foi replicado seis vezes, com seis pintos por gaiola de replicação. As variáveis de resposta incluíram parâmetros de desempenho, atividade sérica de fosfatase alcalina (ALP) e amilase, peso relativo de órgãos selecionados e histologia do sistema digestivo superior. A toxina T-2 a 2,5ppm diminuiu significativamente (P = 0.016) o ganho de peso corporal aos 28 dias e o consumo de alimento acumulado, sem afetar a conversão alimentar. O aditivo diminuiu os efeitos adversos. As atividades séricas das enzimas não foram afetadas significativamente (P>0.05) nos quatro grupos experimentais, porém, quando os dados dos grupos que receberam a toxina T-2 foram combinados e comparados com o pool de dados dos grupos sem toxina, foi observado um decréscimo significativo da atividade de amilase nos frangos que receberam a toxina T-2. O exame histológico do sistema digestivo superior revelou lesões em boca, esôfago, pró-ventrículo, moela e duodeno nos frangos alimentados com toxina T-2 sem aditivo. Frangos alimentados com toxina T-2 mais aditivo mostraram lesões nos mesmos tecidos, exceto no duodeno. Os resultados do presente estudo mostram que a adição de 2,5g/kg do aditivo alimentar testado protege contra os efeitos adversos sobre o desempenho e a integridade da mucosa duodenal.(AU)

Toxigenic potential of Fusarium graminearum isolated from maize of northwest Argentina

Twenty six isolates of Fusarium graminearum from grains of maize hybrids harvested in ±west Argentina were grown on autoclaved rice grain to assess their ability to produce type B trichothecenes. Chemical analysis indicated that 38% of isolates were nivalenol (NIV) producers only, 31% were major NIV producers with high DON(deoxynivalenol)/NIV ratios, 8% were major DON producers with minor NIV production, and 23% were DON producers only. Isolates showed a high variability in their toxigenic potential which was not related to fungal biomass. The distribution of the different chemotypes as well as the high and the low trichothecene-producing Fusarium isolates could not be associated to a geographical origin. Our results confirmed for the first time that isolates of Fusarium graminearum from maize of northwest Argentina are able to produce DON and NIV. A substancial contamination with both NIV and DON is likely in maize from northwest Argentina. Their contents should be quantified in regional surveillances for mycotoxin contamination.

Mushroom Poisoning by Podostroma cornu-damae: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare species of fungus belonging to the Hyocreaceae family. Its fruit body is highly toxic, as it contains trichothecene mycotoxins. Unfortunately, it highly resembles Ganoderma lucidum and Cordyceps, well-known health foods; this can lead to poisoning. We experienced such a case of a 42-year old man who received mushroom poisoning by injesting Podostroma cornu-damae. The patient was presented with severe pancytopenia and infection. The patient recovered without any complications after conservative care, antibiotics therapy, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration. The most common complications of podostroma cornu-damae intoxication were reported pancytopenia, infection, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, etc. It is important to provide enough fluid therapy, use of antibiotics to infection and granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration.

Experimental poisoning by Baccharis megapotamica var. weirii in buffalo / Intoxicação experimental por Baccharis megapotamica var. weirii em búfalos

Five male 6-8 month-old Murrah buffalo calves were orally dosed with the fresh aerial parts of Baccharis megapotamica var. weirii at doses of 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10g/kg body weight (bw) (~1-10mg macrocyclic trichothecenes/kg/bw). The B. megapotamica used for the experiment was harvested on a farm where a recent spontaneous outbreak of poisoning caused by such plant had occurred. Clinical signs appeared 4-20 hours and 4 buffaloes died 18-49 hours after the ingestion of the plant. Clinical signs were apathy, anorexia, and watery diarrhea, fever, colic, drooling, muscle tremors, restlessness, laborious breathing and ruminal atony, and dehydration. The most consistent gross findings were restricted to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract consisted of varying degrees of edema and reddening of the mucosa of the forestomach. Histopathological findings consisted of varying degrees of necrosis of the epithelial lining of the forestomach and of lymphocytes within lymphoid organs and aggregates. Fibrin thrombi were consistently found in sub-mucosal vessels of the forestomach and in the lumen of hepatic sinusoids. It is suggested that dehydration, septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation participate in the pathogenesis of the intoxication and play a role as a cause of death. A subsample of B. megapotamica var. weirii was frozen-dried and ground and analyzed using UHPLC (Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography) with high resolution Time of Flight mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, it was shown that the plant material contained at least 51 different macrocyclic trichothecenes at a total level of 1.1-1.2mg/g. About 15-20% of the total trichothecenes contents was found to be monosaccharide conjugates, with two thirds of these being glucose conjugates and one third constituted by six aldopentose conjugates (probably xylose), which has never been reported in the literature.

As partes aéreas verdes de Baccharis megapotamica var. weirii foram administradas oralmente a cinco búfalos da raça Murrah de 6-8 meses de idade nas doses de 1, 3, 4, 5 e 10g/kg de peso corporal (pc) (~1-10mg de tricotecenos macrocíclicos/kg/pc). A planta usada no experimento foi colhida numa fazenda onde um surto recente de intoxicação espontânea por essa planta havia ocorrido. Nos búfalos deste experimento, os sinais clínicos apareceram 4-20 horas e 4 búfalos morreram 18-49 horas após a ingestão da planta. Os sinais clínicos consistiram de apatia, anorexia, diarreia aquosa, febre, cólica, salivação, tremores musculares, inquietação, respiração laboriosa, atonia ruminal e desidratação. Os achados macroscópicos mais consistentes estavam restritos ao trato gastrointestinal (GI) e consistiram de graus variados de edema e avermelhamento da mucosa dos pré-estômagos. Os achados histopatológicos consistiam de vários graus de necrose do epitélio de revestimento dos pré-estômagos e de linfócitos em agregados e órgãos linfoides. Trombos de fibrina foram consistentemente encontrados nos vasos da submucosa dos pré-estômagos e na luz dos sinusoides hepáticos. É sugerido que desidratação, septicemia e coagulação intravascular disseminada participem da patogênese da intoxicação e sejam fatores responsáveis pela morte dos animais afetados pela intoxicação. Uma subamostra de B. megapotamica var. weirii foi congelada a seco, moída e analisada usando UHPLC (Cromatografia Líquida de Ultra Alta Performance) com espectrometria de tempo-de-vôo de alta resolução e espectrometria de massa em tandem. Foi demonstrado que o material de planta analisado continha pelo menos 51 tricotecenos macrocíclicos diferentes num nível total de 1,1-1,2mg/g. Cerca de 15-20% do conteúdo total de tricotecenos eram conjugados de monossacarídeos, sendo dois terços desses, conjugados de glicose e um terço constituídos por seis conjugados de aldopentose (provavelmente xilose), o que nunca tinha sido antes relatado na literatura.

Effect of deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin in malt amylase activity

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of DON and T-2 toxin levels on the malt amylase activity. The malt was contaminated in accordance with central composite design experiment with DON and T-2 toxin levels until 1000 ng/g. The activities of the enzymes were evaluated by Bernfeld method. The increase in T-2 toxin concentration inhibited the α-amylase activity. However, the increase of both toxins concentration caused inverse effect. The interaction between toxins indicated synergetic effect on the β-amylase activity. An increased activity occurred when the toxins contamination levels in malt were higher (1000ng/g malt). The trichothecenes interfered with the performance of aminolitic enzymes in the stage of malting, resulting in a significant model for enzymatic activity of β-amylase.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de deoxynivalenol e toxina T-2 na atividade de a e b-amilase em malte. A contaminação artificial foi de acordo com planejamento experimental completo nos níveis de 0 a 1000ng/g para cada micotoxina. O aumento da concentração da toxina T-2 inibiu a atividade da a-amilase. Entretanto, a coocorrência a altas concentrações das duas toxinas indicou efeito sinergistíco. Um aumento da atividade enzimática ocorreu na presença de altos níveis das micotoxinas avaliadas (1000ng/g de malte). Os tricotecenos interferiram na performance das enzimas aminolíticas na etapa de malteação, permitindo determinar um modelo preditivo para a atividade da β-amylase.