LYMPHOCYTE CYTOTOXICITY AND ERYTHROCYTIC ABNORMALITIES INDUCED IN BROILER CHICKS BY FUMONISINS B-1 AND B-2 AND MONILIFORMIN FROM FUSARIUM-PROLIFERATUM

Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from broiler chicks that ha d ingested feed amended with autoclaved Fusarium proliferatum culture material containing fumonisin B-1 (FB1), fumonisin B-2 (FB2) and monil iformin. Lymphocyte viability was determined for birds that were place d on amended rations at day 1 or day 7 of age at three different level s of mycotoxins, ranging from 61-546 ppm FB1, 14-94 ppm FB2 and 66-367 ppm moniliformin. Reduction of the tetrazolium salt, MTT [3-(4,5-dime thylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide], to yield MTT form azan, based on mitochondrial metabolic activity, was used to assess ce ll viability. Lymphocyte cytotoxic effects were observed in all treatm ent groups on day 21; chicks that started on amended feed at day 1 of age were affected more than those that started at day 7. Abnormal eryt hrocytes resembling early stages of erythroblasts were observed in per ipheral blood from test chicks. Abnormally shaped red cells (poikilocy tes) having a spindle-shape with one or both ends pointed were present . Some red cells appeared to be undergoing mitosis. Both reduced lymph ocyte viability and abnormal erythrogenesis occurred in chicks given f eed amended with F. proliferatum culture material containing FB1, FB2 and moniliformin.