The effects of citrinin, ochratoxin A, or a combination of the two mycotoxins on the hepatic monooxygenase system and on hepatic and renal adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities were examined in neonatal rats exposed to a single treatment of one or both toxins. Animals received (po) 25 mg/kg citrinin, 1 mg/kg ochratoxin A, or 25 mg/kg citrinin plus 1 mg/kg ochratoxin A within 24 h of birth. Pups were killed 12 d later. Citrinin or ochratoxin A alone did not affect hepatic ATPase. Renal oligomycin-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase was inhibited to the same degree by ochratoxin A and the combination treatment. A synergistic effect of the two mycotoxins was observed on renal Na+-K+-ATPase. Significant effects, due to the mycotoxin interaction, were also observed on cytochrome P-450 content, NADPH-dependent dehydrogenase, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.

Ochratoxin A (OA) was administered to 13-day-old chicken embryos via the chorioallantoic membrane. The 7-day LD50 value (day 20 incubation) of OA was calculated at 7.9 micrograms of OA. Ochratoxin-treated embryos (2.5 micrograms) had slight but significant changes in numbers of immunoglobulin-bearing cells in the bursa but not in the spleen. Chicks hatched from in ovo-treated eggs were challenged with 9 X 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU) of beta-hemolytic Escherichia coli (O1:K1) at 7 days of age via the thoracic air sac. Lesion scores of OA-treated chicks were equal to or less severe than those of controls. Hatchmates of the above chicks were vaccinated with a homologous killed E. coli bacterin (O1:K1) at both 2 and 4 weeks of age and challenged with 10(4) CFU of E. coli at 7 weeks. Post-challenge lesions were present in three vaccinated untreated controls and no OA-treated chicks. We conclude that although in ovo exposure to OA may marginally suppress immunoglobulin-bearing cells of bursa, chicks hatched from OA-treated eggs respond as well as controls to an antigen and resist infection by a virulent organism.

A method is reported for the extraction and analysis of zearalenone in chicken fat, heart muscle, and kidney tissue by using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Zearalenone is extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up with hexane, and extracted further with ethyl acetate. Zearalenone is determined by HPLC using a reverse phase radial compression separation system, an ultraviolet absorbance detector, and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (60 + 40) (v/v). Recoveries of zearalenone added at levels from 50 to 200 ng/g are in the range 82.6-95.1%.

A rapid method for the determination of aflatoxins was developed using high pressure liquid chromatography and a radial compression separation system. A standard solution of aflatoxins B1, B1, G1, G2, and M1 was analyzed at flow rates of 2.0 and 6.0 mL/min. Retention times, peak heights, and peak areas were reproducible over a 3-day period. Coefficients of variation for aflatoxin B1 at 2.0 and 6.0 mL/min were, respectively, 1.04 and 0.87% (retention time); 2.9 and 4.7% (peak height); and 8.2 and 4.7% (peak area). At 6.0 mL/min there was an approximate 25% loss in sensitivity but a greater than 50% reduction in retention time. Separation of all the aflatoxins was excellent using a dual flow rate of 2.0 mL/min with a change to 8.0 mL/min at 15 min post-injection. The applicability of the radial compression separation system for the rapid determination of aflatoxins in human tissues was also tested. Spiked samples of liver, serum, and urine showed good resolution of all aflatoxin peaks at the higher flow rates.

A high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described to determine zearalenone in chicken blood. Samples are extracted with acetonitrile, followed by a hexane cleanup procedure and extracted further with ethyl acetate. The analysis of zearalenone is by HPLC using a reverse phase radial compression separation system, an ultraviolet absorbance detector and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water 60:40 (v/v). Recoveries of zearalenone in blood at levels of 50-200 ng/ml are in the range of 66.8-72.6%.