PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES CAUSED BY T-2 TRICHOTHECENE FUSARIOTOXIN IN GEESE

T-2 trichothecene fusariotoxin was administered to 110 laying geese an d 33 ganders in the active egg production period through a tube at 2-d ay intervals on a total of 10 occasions. After the treatment, the gees e were subjected to detailed pathomorphological examination. In the ov aries of layers, a cessation of follicle maturation and follicle degen eration dependent on the toxin dose were observed, accompanied by ovul ation and consequent peritonitis in the birds that died and in some of those killed by bleeding. Additional findings included involution of the oviduct, lymphocyte depletion, necrosis and amyloidosis in the spl een, catarrhal enteritis, signs of colloid stasis in the thyroid and l arge numbers of secretory granules in the cytoplasm of the adrenaline- producing cells of the adrenal gland. In the ganders, toxin administra tion did not reduce the intensity of spermatogenesis but in the spleen , intestine and endocrine glands it caused changes similar to those se en in the layers.