Effect of dietary fumonisin b1 on certain immune parameters of weaned pigs

Abstract

Only few data are available on the effect of fumonisins on the immune response. The aim of the present study was to examine whether dietary fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) has any effect on the humoral and cellular immune response in weaned pigs, depending on the dose and the time of toxin exposure. Fusarium moniliforme fungal culture was added to the experimental animals' diet to ensure an FB 1 intake of 1, 5 and 10 ppm (first experiment) or 100 mg per animal per day (second experiment). The control animals were fed a toxin-free diet. In order to determine the immune response, the animals were vaccinated against Aujeszky's disease with inactivated vaccine (Aujespig K, Phylaxia-Sanofi, Budapest, Hungary). Specific and nonspecific in vitro cellular immune response was measured by the lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) induced by PHA-P, Con A, LPS and inactivated suspension of the Aujeszky's disease virus. Humoral immune response, e.g. specific antibody titre, was measured by the virus neutralisation (VN) test. None of the immunological parameters examined showed significant differences between groups. It could be concluded that fumonisin B 1 had no significant effect on the humoral and cellular specific and nonspecific immune response when fed in a high dose (100 mg/animal/day for 8 days) or in a low concentration even for a longer period (1, 5 and 10 ppm for 3-4 months).

Sex-related differences in the immune response of weanling piglets exposed to low doses of fumonisin extract

“…By contrast, ingestion of a high dose of fumonisin-contaminated feed for 8 d, or a low dose of toxin for 3-4 months, did not alter antibody titres against Aujeszky virus (Tornyos et al 2003).…”

The toxicity of fumonisin B1on some biochemical and immunological parameters and its detoxification by red cabbage and garlic

“…Table 2-Impacts of garlic and RC extracts on immunoglobulin levels in mice given oral FB1 (100µg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks (mean ± SD). Mice exposure to foods contaminated with 1, 5, and 10mg FB1/kg for up to four months was reported to have no considerable impacts on their antibody titers against the Aujeszky's disease virus [36].…”

Novel strategies to control mycotoxins in feeds: A review

“…A mycotoxin-contaminated diet may lead to substantial economic losses due to feed refusal, poor feed conversion, diminished body weight gain, immunosuppression, interference with reproductive capacities and residues in animal products. Hungarian researchers have made a significant contribution to our knowledge on the harmful effects of mycotoxins in animals (Tobias et al, 1992;Ványi et al, 1994;Fazekas et al, 1997Fazekas et al, , 1998Rafai et al, 2000a, b;Tornyos et al, 2003).…”