EMBRYOPATHIC AND EMBRYOCIDAL EFFECTS OF PURIFIED FUMONISIN-B(1) OR FUSARIUM-PROLIFERATUM CULTURE MATERIAL EXTRACT ON CHICKEN EMBRYOS

One hundred eight fertile eggs (Columbia x New Hampshire) were assigne d to 10 groups of 10 eggs each (2 control groups had 14 eggs each). Fi ve groups of eggs were inoculated on day 1 of incubation, while the ot her 5 groups were inoculated on day 10. The inoculum of the 4 treatmen t groups on both day 1 and 10 consisted of 1,10, or 100 muM purified f umonisin B1 (FB1) or a culture material extract (CME) of Fusarium prol iferatum, having known amounts of FB1, FB2 and moniliformin (FB1 20 mu M; FB2 4 muM and moniliformin 7 muM). Inoculum consisted of the respec tive toxin(s) dissolved in 100 mul double distilled, autoclaved water (diluent). Control eggs were inoculated with diluent only. Mortality w as both dose- and time-responsive in all treatments. Eggs inoculated o n day 1 with 1 muM FB, had 50% mortality; 10 muM FB1 had 70% mortality ; 100 muM FB, had 100% mortality; and CME had 100% mortality. Eggs ino culated on day 10 with 1,10 or 100 muM FB1 or CME had 30, 60, 90 and 8 0% mortality, respectively. Normal chicks were hatched from all contro l eggs. The median death times (MDT50) were inversely dose-responsive in all treatments, ranging from 3.0 to 7.4 days in embryos exposed on day 1 and from 3.2 to 9.0 days in those exposed on day 10. Early embry onic changes in exposed embryos included hydrocephalus, enlarged beaks and elongated necks. Pathologic changes were noted in liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system, intestines, testes and brain to xin-exposed embryos.