Neural Disturbances in Chickens Caused by Dietary T-2 Toxin1

Abstract

Graded concentrations of dietary T-2 toxin (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 Mg/g) were fed to groups of 40 chickens. T-2 toxin was found to cause an abnormal positioning of the-wings, hysteroid seizures, and impaired righting reflex in young chickens. The abnormal wing positioning occurred spontaneously or as the result of dropping from a height of 1 meter. The seizures could be elicited by rough handling or loud noises. The seizures and the abnormal wing posture would not occur again when the stimulus was repeated unless a rest period of 3 to 6 h was allowed. The loss of righting reflex could be demonstrated at any time. The total incidence of neural symptoms was dependent on the length of exposure to T-2 toxin and to its concentration. Neural toxicity occurred at dosages of 4, 8, and 16-sg per g of diet, which are the same doses that retard growth. This neural toxicity of T-2 toxin in chickens is similar to the neural disturbances associated with alimentary toxic aleukia, a nutritional toxicosis of humans produced by eating moldy grain. T-2 toxin has been implicated also in moldy corn toxicosis which has neural manifestations in horses and swine.

Taxonomic Study of Fusaria of the Sporotrichiella Used in Recent Toxicological Work

“…In many recent studies of the toxic effects of fungi of the Sporotrichiella section on animals, reference has been made to the toxicosis caused in humans by the fungi in the Soviet Union, and termed alimentary toxic aleukia (ATA). Attempts have been made to relate the symptoms observed on poultry (25,26), cattle (27), and various other animals (23) to published descriptions of ATA. Such comparisons are, in our view, premature at the present stage of knowledge.…”

“…The taxonomy of Fusarium species of the Sporotrichiella section may once have appeared a subject of purely academic interest, but this no longer holds true. Ever since species of the section have been proved to cause serious disorders in humans who died after consuming overwintered grain (7,(9)(10)(11)(12) and various diseases in animals (1,2,6,17,19,22,23,(25)(26)(27) the true identity of these species is of acute importance. Establishment of this identity, which is the aim of this paper, will enable us to relate, at least from a taxonomic angle, a large body of toxicological work carried out in recent years (mainly in the United States and Japan) to the earlier work carried out principally in the Soviet Union.…”

Effects of T-2 mycotoxin on gastrointestinal tissues: A Review ofin vivo andin vitro models

“…Predominant clinical features of subchronic trichothecene intoxication in humans (Goodwin et al 1978) and animals (Wyatt et al 1973) include signs of impaired central nervous system (CNS) function, such as retarded reflexes and general depression with coma (Martin et al 1986). In animals, dietary and intragastrically administered T-2 mycotoxin produces loss of righting reflex, and meningeal vaso-congestion (Schoental et al 1979;Wyatt et al 1973). Whether or not the CNS represents a primary or secondary site of T-2 toxicant action is not known.…”

Method for detecting production of zearalenone, zearalenol, T-2 toxin, and deoxynivalenol by Fusarium isolates

“…Deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, and zearalenol, secondary metabolites of several Fusarium species, have been implicated in animal toxicoses, particularly in Europe and the midwestern United States (4,17). Deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin are trichothecene mycotoxins associated with feed refusal (23), nervous system disturbances (24), irritation of the gastrointestinal tract (11), and hemorrhaging in animals consuming these toxins (6). Zearalenone and zearalenol are Fusarium metabolites with strong estrogenic activities which affect the reproductive systems of swine (14), cattle (12,15), and possibly poultry (1,13).…”