Effect of various levels of T-2 toxin in the immune system of growing pigs

Abstract

Four groups of seven-week-old pigs weighing about 9 kg were fed for three weeks a prestarter that contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg/kg of highly purified T-2 toxin. The average daily intakes of toxin by the pigs were 0.38, 0.81, 1.24 and 1.43 mg, respectively. The experimental and control pigs were immunised with 5 ml aluminum hydroxide gel-absorbed purified horse globulin on the first and fourth days of the treatment period. Blood samples were withdrawn on days 7, 14 and 21 and used for the determination of the titre of anti-horse globulin antibody, for an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation test, using purified horse globulin, phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin-A and for determinations of the immune complex, the cytotoxic reaction and the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of circulating granulocytes. The samples taken on day 21 were also used to determine the erythrocyte count, the mean cell volume of the erythrocytes, the haematocrit, the blood haemoglobin concentration, the leucocyte count and the proportion of T lymphocytes. At the end of the experiment samples were taken from the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes for histological examination. The diets that contained 2 and 3 mg T-2 toxin/kg caused a significant decrease in the red blood cell count, the mean corpuscular volume and the haemoglobin concentration. A significant decrease in the leucocyte count and the proportion of T lymphocytes was observed in all the treatment groups. There were also dose-dependent, significant decreases in antibody formation and in the blastogenic transformation of lymphocytes, and mild to moderate reactive processes were observed histologically in the lymphoid organs.

Novel Regulatory Action of Ribosomal Inactivation on Epithelial Nod2-Linked Proinflammatory Signals in Two Convergent ATF3-Associated Pathways

“…including lymphocyte proliferation responses, monocyte maturation, and host defense against pathogens (60)(61)(62)(63). Another recent study (62) demonstrated that ribosomal inactivation decreases the production of antibacterial mediators such as reactive oxygen species by attenuating the expression of TLRs [TLR4, TLR2, and TLR6 (62)].…”

The effect of T-2 toxin on percentages of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD8+ and CD21+ lymphocytes, and mRNA expression levels of selected cytokines in porcine ileal Peyer’s patches

“…The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a 200 μg dose of synthetic T-2 toxin kg -1 feed (approximately 20 μg T-2 kg -1 BW) administered orally to gilts over a period of 42 days. The applied dose was smaller than that used by Rafai et al (1995) in whose experiment, piglets were administered feed containing a 29 μg dose of T-2 kg -1 BW for 21 days. The percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations and interleukin mRNA expression levels were analyzed in samples of ileal Peyer's patches containing unfractionated cells.…”

“…The exposure to the T-2 toxin causes leukopenia and cell depletion in lymphoid organs, it inhibits erythropoiesis in the bone marrow and spleen (Nagata et al 2001, Grizzle et al 2004, Parent-Massin 2004. T-2 intoxication can significantly impair antibody production (Niyo et al 1988, Kamalavenkatesh et al 2005, Li et al 2006a, it reduces the proliferative response of lymphocytes (Rafai et al 1995, Kamalavenkatesh et al 2005 and hinders the development of dendritic cells (Hymery et al 2006, Hymery et al 2009). …”

Determination of Various Mycotoxin Concentrations in the Feedstuffs and Feed Produced by A Feed Manufacturer in Turkey

“…Although the T-2 toxin level has not been regulated in EU and Turkey, these concentrations were lower than the toxic levels of T-2 toxin that have been reported as 100 μg/kg for animals by Mabbett 1 and 500μg/kg for growing pigs by Rafai et al 23 . One of maize gluten feed samples contained 102.35 μg/kg of T-2 toxin, which is higher than 100 μg/kg.…”