DISTRIBUTION AND EXCRETION OF A SINGLE-DOSE OF THE MYCOTOXIN FUMONISIN B-1 IN A NONHUMAN PRIMATE

Fumonisin B-1 (FB1), a toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolite of the fungus Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, was administered either by i. v. injection or by gavage to vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). FB1 dosed by i.v. injection to two female vervet monkeys was rapidly e liminated from plasma with a mean half-life during the elimination pha se of 40 min. Analysis of urine and faeces over a 5 day period after d osing gave an average 47% recovery of the dose as FB1 and its hydrolys ed analogues. Two female vervet monkeys were given a single gavage dos e of C-14-labelled FB1. During the subsequent 3 day period, faecal exc retion of radioactivity accounted for an average of 61% of the adminis tered dose and urinary excretion 1.2%. Residual radioactivity was reco vered in low levels from skeletal muscle (1%), liver (0.4%), brain (0. 2%), kidney, heart, plasma, red blood cells and bile (each 0.1%), whil e the contents of the intestines accounted for a further 12% of the ra dioactive dose. In total, 76% of the administered radioactivity was re covered. Analysis of the faeces, intestinal contents and urine indicat ed that over 90% of the radioactivity in these samples was due to FB1 and its hydrolysis products.