Toxic effects to mink of moniliformin extracted from Fusarium fujikuroi culture material

Acute and subacute effects of ip exposure to moniliformin in mink (Mustela vison) were investigated. Moniliformin was extracted from Fusarium fujikuro i culture material containing 9,174 ppm moniliformin. An acute LD50 between 2.2 and 2.8 mg moniliformin/kg bw was determined for 9-mo-old female mink. Subacute exposure to 1.5 to 3.2 mg total moniliformin/kg bw resulted in di lated (right side) hearts rounded in appearance. Statistical differences ob served in serum chloride and albumin, amylase activities, spun packed-cell volumes, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentrations, and hematocrit v alues between control and moniliformin-dosed mink were considered biologica lly insignificant because values were within ranges reported for normal min k. Electron microscopic examination of the right ventricular free heart wal l of mink receiving acute or subacute doses of moniliformin revealed ultras tructural damage to myofibers, mitochondria, nuclei, Z- and M-lines and sar coplasmic reticula, and increased extracellular collagen deposition. These results showed that mink are among the more sensitive mammals to moniliform in and that this mycotoxin specifically targets and damages the hearts of m ink.