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Temporal and dose-response features in swine fed corn screenings contaminated with fumonisin mycotoxins

  • Mycotoxicoses And Mycotoxins
  • Published:
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Abstract

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin produced byFusarium moniliforme andF. proliferatum, induces liver damage and pulmonary edema in swine. We examined the temporal and dose-response features of FB1 toxicosis in male weanling crossbred pigs fed nutritionally balanced diets, containing corn screenings naturally contaminated with fumonisins, for 14 days. Total fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) in diets 1 through 6 were assayed at 175, 101, 39, 23, 5, and <1 ppm (below detectable concentrations), respectively. Clinical signs, serum biochemical alterations, and morphologic changes were evaluated. Pigs were weighed, and bled for hematologic and clinical chemistry evaluation on days 5 and 14. They were euthanized on day 14, or earlier if respiratory distress was observed. Respiratory distress developed in 3/5 pigs fed diet 1 between days 4 and 6 due to severe pulmonary edema and pleural effusion. Histologic evidence of hepatic injury was present in all pigs fed diets 1 and 2, 3/5 on diet 3, and 1/5 on diet 4. Serum bilirubin and cholesterol concentrations, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and arginase (ARG) activities were elevated in pigs fed diets 1 and 2. Based on liver histopathology, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for fumonisin toxicity in swine was <23 ppm total fumosins for the 14-day period. Based on regression analyses of the clinical chemistry profiles at 14 days, the NOAEL was <12 ppm, with ALP being the most sensitive parameter. In conclusion, pulmonary edema occurred only at the highest fumonisin concentration (175 ppm), while liver damage occurred at much lower concentrations with a NOAEL of <12 ppm.

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Abbreviations

ALP:

alkaline phosphatase

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

ARG:

arginase

AST:

aspartate aminotransferase

ELEM:

equine leukoencephalomalacia

FB1 :

fumonisin B1

GGT:

gamma-glutamyl transferase

NOAEL:

no observed adverse effect level

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Author notes

  1. Gideon K. Motelin

    Present address: Department of Animal Health, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya

  2. William F. Hall

    Present address: Purina Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 66812, 63166, St. Louis, MO

  3. Karen S. Harlin

    Present address: Chemistry Division, Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Dr., 61820, Champaign, IL

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Gideon K. Motelin &  Wanda M. Haschek

  2. Department of Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Daniel K. Ness, Karen S. Harlin, David J. Schaeffer & Val R. Beasley

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    William F. Hall

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  1. Gideon K. Motelin
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Motelin, G.K., Haschek, W.M., Ness, D.K. et al. Temporal and dose-response features in swine fed corn screenings contaminated with fumonisin mycotoxins. Mycopathologia 126, 27–40 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371170

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371170

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