Effects of fumonisin-contaminated corn screenings on growth and health of feeder calves

Abstract

Fumonisins are myocotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme and F. proliferatum, common molds of corn in North America. The toxin is at especially high concentrations in corn screenings. Fumonisins are toxic to swine and horses, but effects of these toxins in cattle have not been evaluated. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects in cattle of feeding fumonisins at levels known to be toxic to swine and horses. A total of 18 crossbred feeder calves were fed diets containing fumonisins at 15, 31, or 148 micrograms/g for 31 d. Feed consumption, weight gain, complete blood count, serum clinical chemistries, and an immune function profile were done on d -3, 4, 10, 17 and 31 relative to the start of fumonisin feeding. There was no treatment-related effect on feed intake or weight gain, but feed containing 148 micrograms/g of fumonisins seemed to be less palatable than other feeds. Significant increases in serum aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, and cholesterol occurred from d 10 through 31. Mild microscopic liver lesions were present in two calves fed at the highest fumonisin level. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was significantly impaired at the end of the feeding period in the group given the highest dose. Other measures of immune function were not affected significantly. Fumonisins are capable of causing changes in liver function and in some measures of immune function. However, cattle seem to be relatively less susceptible to fumonisins present naturally in grains than either swine or horses.

Effects of two different blends of naturally mycotoxin-contaminated maize meal on growth and metabolic profile in replacement heifers

“…In addition, it is very important to underline the persistency of increased GGT activity after the suspension of A-F treatment, which could be considered a signal of deep damage to intrahepatic hepatobiliary ducts in the previous phase. The increase in GGT activity in A-F heifers agrees with the results by Osweiler et al (1993) and Mathur et al (2001), confirming the role of GGT as a metabolic marker for intoxication from fumonisins. In growing lambs, Edrington et al (1994) confirmed the damage caused by aflatoxins to hepatic and hepatobiliary cells function with an increase both in serum GGT and AST activities.…”

“…The ALP and total bilirubin values recorded during the EP did not differ among diets probably because of the chronic kind of this challenge. This was the reason for the difference between the results obtained in our trial and those obtained by Lynch et al (1970 and1971) with AFB 1 and by Osweiler et al (1993) with FB 1 and FB 2 contaminations; in these two studies, in fact, the challenge was acute. Gelderblom et al (2001) also did not report any effect on ALP in rats, after a treatment of chronic intoxication from fumonisins.…”

“…According to the aim of the trial, the A diet was characterized by a mid-level of AFB 1 and a low Abeni, Migliorati, Terzano, Capelletti, Gallo, Masoero and Pirlo contamination by fumonisins (6615 μg/kg of FB 1 + FB 2 in maize meal). The results from diet A must be critically interpreted at the light of the previous study by Osweiler et al (1993). In their trial, the low dietary contamination level from fumonisins was set at 31.000 μg/kg (v. a control diet with fumonisins below 5000 μg/kg), and they did not report any effect on BW gain, nor on plasma enzymatic activities related to liver damage.…”

Chronic Experimental Fumonisin Intoxication of Calves

“…Fumonisin (FB 1 ) is the most abundant of the fumonisins produced by F. moniliforme. The fumonisins cause encephalomalacia in horses 11 and pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary artery medial hypertrophy and right ventricular hypertrophy in swine, 4,21 are hepatotoxic in most animal species 3,[8][9][10]14,24 and carcinogenic in rats 6 and possibly people, 22 and are nephrotoxic in rats and rabbits. 8,24 Swine also exhibit altered myocardial function when exposed to fumonisins, and porcine cultured endothelium exhibits disruption of barrier function when FB 1 is present.…”

“…7,21 Previously, cattle fed fumonisins experimentally for short periods of time to determine the effects exhibited only minimal hepatic and immune function changes. 14,15 Cattle in feed lots are fed large quantities of corn for weight gain and occasionally develop pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure even at altitudes that are not usually considered a risk for pulmonary hypertension. This experiment was conducted to determine if cattle develop pulmonary hypertension in response to consumption of fumonisins for prolonged periods of time at altitudes that are not usually associated with pulmonary hypertension in cattle.…”