T-2 toxin is the most acutely toxic trichothecene mycotoxin: it inhibits protein, DNA and RNA synthesis. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the rate of DNA damage caused by T-2 toxin in porcine mononuclear cells in increasing concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 µmol) and after two different incubation periods (24 and 42 h). The lowest concentration caused DNA damage and about 50% of the treated cells could be categorised as having 1 to 4 scores in comet assay. In parallel with the increase of T-2 toxin concentration, the frequency of intact lymphocytes decreased from 50.2% (0.1 μM) to 36.3% (1.0 μM) in the first 24 h. In case of score 3, the highest concentration of T-2 toxin resulted in a 5-fold change, as compared to the lowest dose. Cells with score 4 were found only after exposure to 1.0 μM T-2 toxin. The exposure time did not have a significant effect on the results, while concentration did (P < 0.0001). However, a significant interaction between concentration and time as fixed factors (P < 0.0001) was found. When these were combined as a single factor, the results showed a significant toxin treatment effect on the results. It was concluded that a time-and dose-dependent DNA damaging effect of T-2 toxin could be demonstrated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy pigs by comet assay.

Growing rabbits' (42 rabbits/group, 3 rabbits/cage, 14 cages/treatment) diet was supplemented with 5% spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and 3% thyme (thymus vulgaris l.) powder single (s or t) and in combination (st) between 35 and 77 days of age. on day 0 (weaning at 35 days of age) 14 rabbits were vaccinated with 100 µg/animal ovalbumin to provoke immune response. blood samples were taken on days 0, 14, 28 and 42 of the experimental period. Sampling dates significantly influenced total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine concentration and enzyme (AST, ALT, GGT) activities, with a significant age × diet interaction in the case of tp and CREA. There was a significant increase in ALT (+45 and 74%) and GGT (+87 and 102%) activity after immunisation. While Spirulina and thyme significantly ameliorated the rise in AST activity, their effect was inefficient in the case of GGT. Spirulina, both single and in combination showed a tendency in higher IgG level as compared to control (P<0.05). No significant effect of sampling date or treatment on phagocytic activity or secretory iga was demonstrable (p>0.05). higher mda concentration was measured in the red blood cells of S, T and ST animals, while no other significant diet effect on the antioxidant parameters was detected, however, significant sampling date × diet interaction was found in the case of Gpx activity. plasma GGt (increase by 19-66%) was inversely associated with Gsh (decrease by 66-113%) between days 0 to 42 of the experimental period (r=-0.57, p<0.05). it can be concluded that spirulina supplementation alone resulted in higher IgG production, but none of the phytobiotics, at the dose used, affected significantly the antioxidant status of blood.

Co-contamination of feed and feed raw materials with two or more mycotoxins is frequently reported, however, only a few studies have investigated the combined effects of low doses of multiple mycotoxins. In the present study the individual and combined effects of 10 mg/kg fumonisin B 1 and 2 mg/kg T-2 toxin (n=12/group) were investigated in weaned rabbits. Mycotoxin contaminated feed was produced by adding fungal cultures of Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium sporotrichioides, and fed to 40 days old rabbits during 28 days. Feed intake and body weight were measured weekly, serum biochemistry and antioxidant parameters on day 0, 14 and 28, while histopathological examination and comet assay were performed at the end of the experiment. T-2 exposure both alone and in combination resulted in 15-18% less final body weight compared to the control and FB 1 treatment. There was a significant increase in the concentration of plasma total protein, albumin, fructosamine and creatinine in the group treated with FB 1 compared to the control. The liver and the kidney of most animals treated with T-2 toxin, FB 1 and their combination showed pathological changes, occurring more frequent in animals exposed to both toxins. T-2 resulted in depletion of lymphocytes in the spleen. FB 1 and T-2 exerted synergistic effect on the antioxidant/oxidative parameters after 2 weeks of exposure, manifesting in less glutathione and glutathione peroxidase, while more malondialdehyde was produced. Both toxins caused DNA damage in the lymphocytes, which was more pronounced in the group fed T-2 toxin and T-2 combined with FB 1 , without additive or synergistic effects.

Kovács (2019) Effect of feeding Bacilluscereus var. toyoi and/or mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on blood clinical chemistry, oxidative stress, immune response and genotoxicity in T-2 toxin exposed rabbitsa Agr ar-es K€ ornyezettudom anyi Kar, Kaposv ar University, Kaposv ar, Hungary; b J arv anytani es Mikrobiol ogiai Tansz ek, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; c Mez} ogazdas ag-es K€ ornyezettudom anyi Kar, Szent Istv an University, G€ od€ oll} o, Hungary; d MTA-KE-SZIE Mikotoxinok az Elelmiszerl ancban Kutat ocsoport, Kaposv ar, Hungary ABSTRACTThe aim of the study was to determine the effect of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi (200 mg/kg) and mannan oligosaccharide (MOS, 2 g/kg) in T-2 toxin exposed rabbits. Weaned rabbits (35 days of age) were assigned into four experimental groups (n ¼ 20 in each): control (C), B. cereus (B), MOS (M) and B. cereusþMOS (BM) group. At 49 days of age, rabbits were divided into two groups (n ¼ 10 in each), and half of the C, B, M and BM rabbits were fed with the same diet as before, but contaminated with 2 mg/kg feed T-2 toxin (groups CT, BT, MT and BMT). On day 50 and 60, rabbits were injected with ovalbumin. At 70 days of age, all animals were sacrificed. Daily weight gain was smaller in toxin challenged animals (17.6-19.5 g) compared to controls (29.7 g). Serum total protein concentration was less in toxin treated animals, among them in CT group (49.7 g/L) it decreased underneath the reference range. T-2 increased the glutathione peroxidase activity in the kidney. C and B treatments resulted in the highest IgG production. Phagocytic activity was the lowest in CT animals (76.4%), while the highest in C and BM groups (82%). Cytokine expression in the intestinal mucosa was lower in T-2 exposed animals as compared to their relevant controls. None of the feed additives had any effect on the T-2 induced changes in the oxidative stress and immune response. T-2 had slight genotoxic effect on lymphocytes, which was alleviated by MOS and B. cereus. HIGHLIGHTSThe suspected protective effect of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi and mannan oligosaccharide was investigated in T-2 toxin exposed rabbits. T-2 impaired immune response and was slightly genotoxic on lymphocytes. MOS and B. cereus alleviated the genotoxicity of T-2. ARTICLE HISTORY