Identification of T-2 Toxin in Moldy Corn Associated with a Lethal Toxicosis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Over a 5-month period during the winter of 1970-71, 20% of the lactating Holstein cows in a Wisconsin dairy herd died after prolonged ingestion of a diet containing 60% moldy corn infested with Fusarium tricinctum (2 � 10 5 propagules per g of moldy corn). Ethyl acetate extracts of the ground dried corn induced severe dermal reactions when applied to the skin of shaved 60-g albino rats and killed four of five 100-g rats that were force fed 1 ml in 2 ml of pure corn oil. T-2 toxin (3-hydroxy-4, 15-diacetoxy-8-[3-methylbutyryloxy]-12, 13-epoxy-Δ 9 -trichothecene) at concentrations of 2 mg per kg of dry corn was identified in purified extracts of the moldy corn by means of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. This concentration of T-2 toxin in the moldy feed and the nature of the toxic effects observed strongly suggest a major causal relationship.

Glucuronide conjugates of T-2 toxin and metabolites in swine bile and urine

“…T-2 toxin has been found in naturally contaminated corn, barley, and mixed feeds in the U.S. and Canada at concentrations of 0.076-25 ppm (Vesonder, 1983). When present in the diets of livestock and poultry, T-2 toxin has been associated with feed refusal, infertility, diarrhea, intestinal irritation, and possibly hemorrhage, perioral and pharyngeal irritation, and lowered immunity (Hsu et al, 1972;Palyusik and Koplik-Kovacs, 1975;Speers et al, 1977; Weaver et al, 1977;Weaver et al, 1978a; Weaver et al, 1978b; Rafai and Tuboly, 1982;Hoerr et al, 1982). Trichothecene mycotoxins, including T-2 toxin, and their effects on humans have attracted considerable international attention because of their possible use in chemical warfare as the agent "Yellow Rain" (Rosen and Rosen, 1982;Mirocha et al, 1983; Watson et al, 1984).…”

Metabolism of T-2 toxin in rats: effects of dose, route, and time

“…T-2 toxin, one of over 40 naturally occurring trichothecenes, is a toxic metabolite produced primarily by species of Fusarium (Bamburg and Strong, 1971). Serious mycotoxicoses, including moldy corn toxicosis in the United States and fusariotoxicosis in Canada, have been attributed to T-2 toxin (Hsu et al, 1972;Puls and Greenway, 1976). This toxin was also possibly involved in the bean hull toxicosis of farm animals in Japan (Ueno et al, 1972).…”

“…In addition, alimentary toxic aleukia, which has been a human health problem in Russia, was found to be associated primarily with the ingestion of moldy cereals infected with T-2 toxin producing strains of Fusarium (Joffe, 1971). The signs of trichothecene intoxication included emesis, decreased weight gain, lethargy, diarrhea, feed refusal, necrosis, lowered immunity, hemorrhage, and death (Hsu et al, 1972; Beasley et al, 1986;Kosuri et al, 1970;Osweiller et al, 1981; Boonchuvit et al, 1975;Wyatt et al, 1973;Glavits et al, 1983). Trichothecene mycotoxins, including T-2 toxin, and their Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801.…”

Evaluation of the Multimycotoxin-Degrading Efficiency of Rhodococcus erythropolis NI1 Strain with the Three-Step Zebrafish Microinjection Method

“…Fusarium poae and F. sporotrichioides fungi species produce T-2 and mainly infect corn, wheat, commercial feed, and mixed feed. Acute toxicological effects are dermatitis, feed refusal, vomiting, testis and ovary aberrations, hemorrhages and necrosis of stomach, depressed growth, early life stage toxicity in cats, dairy cattle, dogs, pigs, ducklings, zebrafish, and rainbow trout [3,8,[20][21][22][23][24]. Chronic exposure causes dizziness, excessive salivation, fatigue, secondary infections (pneumonia) and abdominal pain in chickens, mice, rats, and rhesus monkeys [25][26][27][28].…”