Investigations on the tolerable limit values and the perinatal toxic effect of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme

In order to determine tolerable Limit values, the effect of exposure to fum onisin B-1 (FB1) administered in the fungal culture of Fusarium moniliforme in low doses (10, 20 and 40 ppm) for 4 weeks was examined in weaned pigs. Feeding with the toxin exerted no significant effect on body weight gain an d feed consumption, no clinical signs were observed. In computer tomographi c examinations performed in the second and fourth week mild and severe pulm onary oedema was diagnosed. The mathematical/statistical procedure applied on the basis of the findings of the CT examinations and the density values obtained proved appropriate for the tn vivo detection of changes developing in the pulmonary parenchyma The haematological parameters examined proved to be within the range of the physiological limit values, no change attribu table to toxic effect having been detected (data not shown). Of the biochem ical parameters studied, in all three experimental groups a dose-dependent increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, indicating pathologi cal change in the liver, was observed On examination of the free sphinganin e to sphingosine (SA/SO) ratio regarded as the most sensitive and specific biomarker to fumonisin exposure - in the blood in the first 8 days of the e xperiment an increase proportional to toxin concentration was determined fo r all three dosages. Dissection revealed mild cases of pulmonary oedema in 3 of the animals subjected to the dose of 10 ppm (n=4), 2 mild and 2 severe cases in those exposed to 20 ppm (n=5) and severe cases in all 5 animals g iven 40 ppm by means of histopathological examination subpleural and interl obular, and to a slight extent intraalveolar pulmonary oedema were found, e xtending to the superficial and peribronchial-peribronchiolar-perivascular area of the lung. In an other experiment three pregnant sows were fed a diet mixed with Fusar ium moniliforme fungal culture from the 107(th) day of pregnancy. The sows were given 300 mg FB1 daily one week before (3(rd) sow) and for a further 7 days after parturition (1(st) and 2(nd) sow). It was established that FBI had harmful effects on foetuses while still in the uterus. Of the disordes caused by the toxin subpleural, interlobular and intraalveolar pulmonary oe dema of different severity was observed in the piglets slaughtered immediat ely after birth, before the first suckling. Pathological change was demonst rated in the histopathological finding for the liver, and in the activity o f plasma AST, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phoshatase (ALK P), wich in each case was found to be higher than physiological levels. The serum SA/SO values varied in accordance with the severity of the changes o bserved in the lungs. They were found to be between 0.29 and 0.36 in the ca se of severe pulmonary oedema, and between 0.20 and 0.24 for slight changes . In the piglets of the sows fed the toxin for a further 7 days after partu rition (1(st) and 2(nd) sow) a mild pulmonary oedema could be detected afte r colostrum suckling, examined 24 hours after parturition and also on the 7 (th) day. No change was observed on the 7(th) day in the piglets of the 3(r d) sow fed a toxin-free diet after parturition. The SA/SO values of the ser um in these two piglets were 0.19 and 0.20, while at the same time AST, GGT and ALKP were elevated In the milk samples taken from the 1(st) and 2(nd) sow examined after 24 hours and on the 7(th) day FBI was detected in quanti ties of 18.0-27.5 ppb.