Effects of Chronic Ochratoxin A and Citrinin Toxicosis on Kidney Function of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of repeated or chronic ochratoxin A (OA) and citrinin exposure, and to determine if severe ochratoxicosis permanently alters renal function in pullets. The OA-treated birds were injected intramuscularly (breast muscle) with a 1 mg/mL solution of OA at a dose of .25 mg/kg BW or .5 mg/kg BW. Citrinin-treated birds were injected with a 6 mg/mL solution of citrinin at a dose of 6 mg/kg BW. Control birds received an equal volume injection of the citrinin and OA solvent, 100% ethanol, at a dose of 1 mL/kg BW. Kidney function was evaluated after 10 consecutive days of OA, citrinin, or ethanol injection, and 2 wk following the final injections. Venous blood gas measurements were taken after the seventh day of injection. The OA increased urine flow rate, decreased urine osmolality, increased ion excretion (Na, K, Ca, P), increased water consumption, increased manure moisture, and caused a relative alkalosis when measured immediately after 10 days of OA injection. These effects of OA were not detected 2 wk later. Citrinin increased manure moisture, decreased plasma P, increased the clearance of para-aminohippuric acid, and had no consistent effect on blood acid-base parameters. The results suggest that OA may cause an osmotic diuresis by inhibiting tubular reabsorption of electrolytes. The data also suggests that the effects of OA may be reversible simply by discontinuing toxin administration. Although the citrinin-induced increase in manure moisture indicates that citrinin had an effect on renal function, renal function analysis suggests that even repeated exposure to high doses of citrinin may only have a short duration of diuretic action on the kidneys.

Review on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the mycotoxin citrinin

“…While it is also known as a hepato-nephrotoxin in a wide range of species (Berndt, 1990;Bilgrami, Sinha, & Jeswal, 1988;Hanika, Carlton, & Tuite, 1983), in vitro studies have demonstrated that citrinin produced multiple effects on renal mitochondrial function and macromolecule biosynthesis that ultimately resulted in cell death (Chagas, Campello, & Kluppel, 1992a, 1992b. In addition, citrinin occurred frequently together with another nephrotoxin-ochratoxin A in foodstuffs such as cereals, fruits, meat (Nishijima, 1984) and cheese (Lepom, 1986;Vazquez et al, 1996;Vrabcheva, Usleber, Dietrich, & Martlbauer, 2000) and acted synergistically (Glahn, Shapiro, Vena, Wideman, & Huff, 1989). To avoid the direct/indirect intake of citrinin, it is important to develop detoxification methods for citrinin during food processing.…”

Aflatoxicosis alters avian renal function, calcium, and vitamin d metabolism

“…Previous studies have shown that nephrotoxic mycotoxins such as citrinin and ochratoxin A can alter avian renal function and Ca and P, excretion (Hnatow and Wideman, 1985;Glahn et al, 1988bGlahn et al, , 1989a. Although primarily a hepatotoxin (Uchida et al, 1988), aflatoxin (AF) has been shown to have nephrotoxic capabilities in domestic fowl.…”

Beneficial effects of dietary ascorbic acid supplement on hens subjected to ochratoxin A toxicosis under normal and high ambient temperatures

“…This results in nephropathy (Hamilton et al 1992;Glahn et al 1989), depressed egg production (Choudhury et al 1971;Prior and Sisodia 1978;Hamilton et al 1982), poor feed efhciency, damage to the liver, mortality (Choudhury et al l97l), reduced egg weights (Prior and Sisodia 1978), and reduced eggshell quality (Hamilton et al 1982). Ochratoxin A has also been shown to cause many adverse metabolic effects.…”