Interaction between the three frequently co‐occurringFusariummycotoxins in rats

Abstract

To test the complex, acute biochemical effects of combined, naturally co‐occurring fusariotoxins, a 5‐day rat study was performed. Mycotoxin treatment was invented by intraperitoneal injection: FB1 (F): 9 µg/animal/day (approx. 30 µg/kg bw/day), DON (D): 16.5 µg/animal/day (approx. 55 µg/kg bw/day) and ZEN (Z): 12.75 µg/animal/day (approx. 42.5 µg/kg bw/day). The binary groups (FB1 and DON [FD], FB1 and ZEN [FZ] and DON and ZEN [DZ]) as well as the ternary (FB1, DON and ZEN [FDZ]) group were dosed at the same combined level as the individual mycotoxins. Body weight, feed intake and mortality were not affected by any of the treatments. FB1 and DON in combination (FD) increased the plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity synergistically (compared to the individual FB1 and DON). In the liver, both the total glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were increased (p < 0.05) by the binary FB1 and ZEN (FZ) and the DON and ZEN (DZ) groups as well as the ternary FB1, DON and ZEA group (FDZ) compared to the control. The GSH level of the ternary group was significantly increased compared to the FB1 group, whereas the GPx activity of the ternary group was significantly increased compared to all three the individual mycotoxin groups. The Bliss independence method revealed synergism between DON and ZEN (DZ), as well as FB1 and DON (FD) on liver GPx activity. None of the toxins alone or in combination exerted strong genotoxicity on lymphocytes, neither on the gross histopathological characteristics. However, even at these low levels acute exposure of more than one of these mycotoxins (FB1, DON and ZEN) affected metabolic and detoxification changes.

Global Mycotoxin Occurrence in Feed: A Ten-Year Survey

“…The type of interaction may vary with the investigated parameter, the animal species, age, sex, or nutritional status of the animals, administered mycotoxin dose, as well as duration and route of mycotoxin administration [8]. Additive or synergistic effects of DON and ZEN were reported for parameters of immune function in mice and pigs [34,35,36], parameters of liver health and antioxidant function in mice and rats [37,38], and parameters of oxidative stress in the spleen [36], brain [39], and kidneys [40] of mice. Antagonistic effects were reported for parameters of immune function in pigs [35] and parameters of liver health [37] and liver metabolism [41] in mice.…”

A preliminary study on changes in heat shock protein 70 levels induced by Fusarium mycotoxins in rats: in vivo study

“…In the FDZ group, although the liver was not undergoing oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity was present. In a similar study design of ours by Szabó-Fodor et al ( 2018 ), hepatotoxicity was proven (high lesion scores) after 5 days of DON and FDZ exposures (doses were 9, 16.5 and 12.75 µg of FB 1 , DON and ZEN/rat/day).…”

“…The lack of increase in Hsp70-level of the FDZ group, unlike noted in the liver, may be attributed to the organ sensitivity to toxins and their interaction. Szabó-Fodor et al ( 2018 ) have shown that intraperitoneal injection of FDZ to rats for 5 days could increase lesion scores in the hepatic tissue, but not in the renal tissue.…”

“…In our study, the AST was non-responsive in the FDZ group, unlike the ALT. This finding might result from the long exposure period (14 days), as compared with the 5 days treatment of Szabó-Fodor et al (2018).…”

“…Up to date, only a few in vitro and in vivo studies investigated the two mycotoxins interaction on rodents (Ren et al 2016 ; Liang et al 2015 ; Sun et al 2015 ; Szabó-Fodor et al 2015 ; Kouadio et al 2013 ; Tajima et al 2002 ; Groten et al 1998 ; Pestka et al 1987 ; Forsell et al 1986 ). Scares studies are available on the ternary mycotoxin interactions in rodents (Szabó-Fodor et al 2018 , 2015 ; Szabó et al 2018 ; Tajima et al 2002 ) but none investigated the Hsps. Our study is a part of the larger in vivo study published by Szabó et al ( 2018 ) and aimed to investigate the individual and combined mycotoxin (FB 1 , DON and ZEN) effects, with a particular interest to the intracellular defence mechanisms, namely Hsp70 and redox system.…”