ABSTRACT
A severe neurotoxicosis, comprising tremors, ataxia, paresis, recumbency and death, occurred simultaneously among several herds of beef cattle in the region of Flanders (Belgium). After a first multi-toxin screening of some suspected diet elements, verruculogen was detected in a sample of a common feed ingredient. However, when the first animal necropsies revealed serious nervous lesions, including neuronal degeneration of the central nervous system and axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system, further investigations focused on fungal isolation. As expected from the pathological lesions, Aspergillus clavatus was found to be the dominant fungal species in a sample of compacted fodder, containing malting residues, consumed by all the affected herds. The isolated fungus appeared to produce patulin in culture medium. Traces of patulin were also detected in the fodder. These findings and their possible role in the intoxication are discussed.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed/toxicity , Aspergillosis/metabolism , Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Cattle Diseases/etiology , Central Nervous System Diseases/microbiology , Patulin/poisoning , Animal Feed/analysis , Animal Feed/microbiology , Animals , Aspergillosis/physiopathology , Aspergillosis/veterinary , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/pathology , Central Nervous System Diseases/metabolism , Central Nervous System Diseases/veterinary , Patulin/biosynthesis , Tremor/etiology , Tremor/pathology , Tremor/veterinaryABSTRACT
Patulin, a secondary metabolite produced by species of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, was administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 50-60 g, by the oral, sc and ip routes. The 72-hr LD50 values (in mg/kg weight) were: oral, 55.0; sc, 11.0; ip, 10.0. Mortality was greatest 0-24 hr after administration by the oral and sc routes and 49-72 hr after ip dosing. Gross alterations consisted of gastric and intestinal hyperaemia and distention. Histopathological alterations consisted principally of ulceration and inflammation of the stomach. Patulin was administered orally to rats daily or every other day for 2 wk at doses of 50 or 75% of the oral LD50. Mortality in the treated groups was greater than in controls but was similar for all treated groups. No evidence of cumulative toxicity was found and the gross and histopathological alterations were similar to those found in the LD50 studies. Clinicopathological alterations included metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation, oliguria, decreased serum sodium, elevated blood glucose, reduced plasma protein and an elevated total leucocyte count which differential leucocyte counts indicated to be due to neutrophilia. The inflammatory alterations observed in the gastro-intestinal tract may be due to the irritant properties of patulin or to an alteration in the gastro-intestinal flora by the antibiotic activity of patulin.
