PATHOGENIC EFFECTS OF FUSARIUM-SULPHUREUM, FUSARIUM-SOLANI VAR COERULEUM AND DRY ROT AFFECTED POTATOES ON THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF RATS

Rats of the Wistar race were used in toxicological experiments involvi ng Fusarium sulphureum Schl, F. solani var. coeruleum (Sacc.) Booth an d potatoes damaged by these fungi. The in vivo and postmortem studies revealed that both fungi and effected tubers had hepatotoxic and nephr otoxic effects on the animals. Morphological changes in the internal o rgans were mainly manifested by disturbances in blood circulation and regressive metamorphosis. These changes intensified proportionally to the dose of fungi and diseased potatoes in the feed used. Fusarium sol ani was more pathogenic than F. sulphurewn. No teratogenic effect was observed, although addition of the fungi and infested potatoes into th e feeds decreased the reproductive ability of rats and caused a decrea se in foetal body weight as well as haematomae in foetuses.