Temporal and dose-response features in swine fed corn screenings contaminated with fumonisin mycotoxins

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), a mycotoxin produced byFusarium moniliforme andF. proliferatum, induces liver damage and pulmonary edema in swine. We examined the temporal and dose-response features of FB₁ toxicosis in male weanling crossbred pigs fed nutritionally balanced diets, containing corn screenings naturally contaminated with fumonisins, for 14 days. Total fumonisins (FB₁ and FB₂) in diets 1 through 6 were assayed at 175, 101, 39, 23, 5, and <1 ppm (below detectable concentrations), respectively. Clinical signs, serum biochemical alterations, and morphologic changes were evaluated. Pigs were weighed, and bled for hematologic and clinical chemistry evaluation on days 5 and 14. They were euthanized on day 14, or earlier if respiratory distress was observed. Respiratory distress developed in 3/5 pigs fed diet 1 between days 4 and 6 due to severe pulmonary edema and pleural effusion. Histologic evidence of hepatic injury was present in all pigs fed diets 1 and 2, 3/5 on diet 3, and 1/5 on diet 4. Serum bilirubin and cholesterol concentrations, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and arginase (ARG) activities were elevated in pigs fed diets 1 and 2. Based on liver histopathology, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for fumonisin toxicity in swine was <23 ppm total fumosins for the 14-day period. Based on regression analyses of the clinical chemistry profiles at 14 days, the NOAEL was <12 ppm, with ALP being the most sensitive parameter. In conclusion, pulmonary edema occurred only at the highest fumonisin concentration (175 ppm), while liver damage occurred at much lower concentrations with a NOAEL of <12 ppm.Abbreviations ALP alkaline phosphatase - ALT alanine aminotransferase - ARG arginase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - ELEM equine leukoencephalomalacia - FB₁ fumonisin B₁ - GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase - NOAEL no observed adverse effect level     

Fumonisin-induced pulmonary edema and hydrothorax in swine

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were observed in mature swine that died approximately 5 days after consuming corn screenings. These postmortem observations were reproduced in younger pigs that died within 1 week when fed the corn screenings under experimental conditions. Additionally, pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were induced in a pig that died after receiving 4 daily intravenous injections of fumonisin B₁, a toxic metabolite produced by Fusarium moniliforme.     

A review and update of animal toxicoses associated with fumonisin-contaminated feeds and production of fumonisins by Fusarium isolates

During the 1989 corn harvest season, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks and a pulmonary edema (PPE) syndrome in swine from several regions of the United States were received by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), Ames, Iowa. Previous and concurrent research linked Fusarium moniliforme and fumonisin-contaminated feeds to both diseases. Chemical and mycological investigations revealed fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) concentrations of 20 to 360 ppm in suspect swine feeds and 8 to 117 ppm in suspect equine feeds. Nonproblem feeds contained concentrations below 8 ppm. Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum were isolated from both problem and nonproblem equine and swine feeds. When cultured on autoclaved corn, the F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum isolates produced respective FB₁ and fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) that range from less than 5 to more than 2450 ppm and less than 5 to more than 1000 ppm, respectively. Isolates from both problem and nonproblem feeds produced high levels (greater than 500 ppm) in culture. Reported here is a review of chemical and mycological data resulting from the study of several cases of PPE and ELEM.     

In vivo and in vitro electrophysiological monitoring of rat neocortical activity after dietary fumonisin exposure

Corn pellets, containing 30 mg/kg bw/day fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) or containing no FB₁ were fed in two series of experiments to rats. Spontaneous and evoked potentials were measured in the neocortex both in vivo and in vitro in “corn fed control” rats and in rats after a five day dietary exposure to FB₁. The FB₁ content of corn was quantitated by HPLC. Auditory evoked potentials recorded in vivo on freely moving animals after feeding a corn diet containing FB₁ for 5 days revealed a highly significant 20–60% decrease in the primary and mid-latency components; cortex slices in vitro showed a reduced excitability both in standard artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) solution and in a 4-aminopyridine induced epilepsy model. Spontaneous epileptic discharges after FB₁ exposure had an increased latency, decreased frequency, longer duration and modified signal forms. Altered excitability and seizure susceptibility of the neocortex after fumonisin exposure are suspected to be associated with modified signal transmission. These changes may be due to concurrent effects of possible liver and renal toxicity or partly of nutritional deficiencies. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fumonisins: Isolation,chemical characterization and biological effects

The fumonisin B mycotoxins (FB₁ and FB₂) have been purified and characterized from corn cultures of Fusarium moniliforme strain MRC 826. Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁, the major fumonisin produced in culture, has been shown to be responsible for the major toxicological effects of the fungus in rats, horses and pigs. Recent investigations on the purification of compounds with chromatographic characteristics similar to FB₁ have led to the identification of two new fumonisins, FB₃ and FB₄. Fumonisins A₁ and A₂, the N-acetyl derivatives of FB₁ and FB₂ respectively, were also purified and shown to be secondary metabolites of the fungus. Short-term carcinogenesis studies in a rat liver bioassay indicated that over a period of 15 to 20 days, at dietary levels of 0.05–0.1%, FB₂ and FB₃ closely mimic the toxicological and cancer initiating activity of FB₁ and thus could contribute to the toxicological effects of the fungus in animals. In contrast, no biological activity could be detected for FA₁ under identical experimental conditions. These studies and others have indicated that the fumonisin B mycotoxins, although lacking mutagenicity in the Salmonella test or genotoxicity in the DNA repair assays in primary hepatocytes, appear to induce resistant hepatocytes similar to many known hepatocarcinogens.     

Occurrence of fumonisin B1 and B2 in corn-based foodstuffs in Taiwan market

Corn-based human foodstuffs purchased in Taiwan were analyzed for fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Fifty-two (33.9%) and 32 (20.9%) of 153 samples were found to contain FB₁ (73–2395 ng/g) and FB2 (120–715 ng/g), respectively. The highest frequency of detection and also the highest FB1 concentrations were found in sweetcorn (50%, 1089 ng/g) and cornflour (50%, 608 ng/g), followed by corn snacks (33.3%, 2395 ng/g), miscellaneous corn products (33.3%, 73 ng/g), popcorn (31.8%, 1003 ng/g) and cornflakes (23.5%, 1281 ng/g). 16 corn snacks (= approximately 20.5% of the samples) had an average FB₁ and FB₂ content of 456 and 145 ng/g, respectively, while six sweetcorn (= 25%) samples were contaminated with an average of 400 ng/g of FB₁ and 65 ng/g of FB₂. Of the 22 pop-corn samples examined, 7 had an average of 347 ng/g and 116 ng/g of FB₁ and FB₂, respectively. During an analysis of the distribution pattern for the combined fumonisin levels of FB₁ and FB₂, it became apparent that more than 69% of tested samples had fumonisin concentrations below 100 ng/g, while 11.1% (or 17 samples) contained in excess of 600 ng toxins per g. These results clearly illustrated that commercially available corn-based foodstuffs for human consumption in Taiwan are frequently contaminated with FB₁ and FB₂.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Experimental reproduction of ELEM

An experiment to gain insight into the minimum toxic dose of fumonisins was conducted by feeding ponies rations with known fumonisin concentrations. Naturally contaminated corn screenings (CS) were blended with pellets, corn, and molasses to formulate individual daily diets. One group of 4 ponies was fed a ration with fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) varying from <1 ppm to 22 ppm. A second group of 5 ponies was fed a ration at varying rates containing 8 ppm FB₁ for 180 days. A panel of clinical chemistry parameters was evaluated twice weekly for both groups. One pony in the first group died of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) after 225 days of which the final 55 days' diet contained 22 ppm FB₁. Approximately 9 days prior to death, this animal experienced elevated liver chemistry values. All 5 ponies in the second group experienced mild, transient, clincal signs; were euthanized at 180 days; and had mild, histopathological brain lesions.     

In vivo effects of fumonisin B1-producing and fumonisin B1-nonproducing Fusarium moniliforme isolates are similar: Fumonisins B2 and B3 cause hepato- and nephrotoxicity in rats

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, F. proliferatum, and related Fusarium species found on corn. They occur naturally in corn-based feeds and foods and are suspected human esophageal carcinogens. Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), the most common homologue, causes the animal diseases associated with F. moniliforme. Hepato- and nephrotoxicities, disrupted sphingolipid metabolism, and liver cancer have been found in rats fed FB₁. To determine the in vivo effects of diets containing fumonisins B₂ (FB₂) or B₃ (FB₃), male rats were fed culture materials (CM) of FB₁ non-producing F. moniliforme isolates to provide low (4.6–6.7 ppm), mid (32–49 ppm) or high (219–295 ppm) dietary levels of either FB₂ (FB₂CM) or FB₃ (FB₃CM). Other groups were fed culture material of an FB₁ producing isolate (FB₁CM) providing 6.9, 53 or 303~ppm total fumonisins (FB₁ : FB₂ : FB₃ = 1.0 : 0.38 : 0.15) and a tenth group was fed a control diet having no detectable fumonisins. One-half (n = 5/group) the animals were killed after three weeks, at which time the toxicological and histopathological effects of the three culture materials were similar, mimicked the effects of FB₁, and included decreased body weight gains, serum chemical indicators of hepatotoxicity, decreased kidney weights, and apoptosis of hepatocytes and kidney tubular epithelium. FB₁CM, FB₂CM, and FB₃CM affected sphingolipids, causing increased sphinganine to sphingosine ratios (Sa/So) in both liver and kidneys. The remaining animals (n = 5/group) were fed a control diet for three additional weeks. All body weight and tissue specific effects, including increased Sa/So, induced by the FB₂CM, FB₃CM and low level FB₁CM diets were absent following the recovery period. Except for mild biliary lesions found in the high dose FB₁CM group and a few apoptotic hepatocytes present in one mid- and two high-dose FB₁CM rats, no evidence of toxicity remained in these groups following the recovery period.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mycotoxin Fumonisin B1 Increases Intestinal Colonization by Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Pigs

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) is a mycotoxin that commonly occurs in maize. FB₁ causes a variety of toxic effects in different animal species and has been implicated as a contributing factor of esophageal cancers in humans. In the present study, we examined the effect of dietary exposure to FB₁ on intestinal colonization by pathogenic Escherichia coli associated with extraintestinal infection. Three-week-old weaned pigs were given FB₁ by gavage as a crude extract or as a purified toxin at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight daily for 6 days. On the last day of the toxin treatment, the pigs were orally inoculated with an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strain. All animals were euthanized 24 h later, necropsies were performed, and tissues were taken for bacterial counts and light microscopic examination. Ingestion of FB₁ had only a minimal effect on animal weight gain, did not cause any macroscopic or microscopic lesions, and did not change the plasma biochemical profile. However, colonization of the small and large intestines by an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strain was significantly increased. Our results show that FB₁ is a predisposing factor to infectious disease and that the pig can be used as a model for the study of the consequences of ingesting mycotoxin-contaminated food.     

Production of fumonisin B1 and B2 byFusarium moniliforme isolated from Korean corn kerneis for feed

The natural occurrence of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂), a promoter for hepatocarcinogenesis, was investigated in Korean corn kernels for feed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. From the 12 corn kernel samples, FB₁ was detected in 5 samples at levels ranging from 53 to 1327ng/g, while FB₂ was found in 4 samples from 69 to 680ng/g. In the positive samples, the average concentrations of FB₁ and FB₂ were 506 and 288ng/g, respectively. One sample (No. K3) showed the highest FB₁ and FB₂ contents as 1327 and 680ng/g, respectively. In the micrological survey on 5 positive samples for FB₁ and FB₂, 6 strains ofFusarium monlliforme were isolated, and all these isolates had a producibility of FB₁ and FB₁, with maximum levels of 80.7 to 180.9 g/g.Thisis the first report on the natural co-contamination of FB₁ and FB₂ in Korean corn kernels for feed, and on the ability ofF. moniliforme isolated from corn kernels for feed in Korea to produce FB₁ and FB₂.     

Influence of rearing system,diet and gender on performance,carcass traits and meat quality of Polish Landrace pigs

Forty-eight Polish Landrace pigs (initially 32.43 ± 0.70 kg live weight) were assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in order to assess the effects of the rearing system (outdoor v. indoor), diet (with corn grain silage v. without corn grain silage) and gender (barrows v. gilts) on performance, carcass traits, meat quality and intramuscular collagen (IMC) characteristics. During the trial period of 14 weeks, each group was housed in a pen of 12 m², and the outdoor-reared animals had access to a paddock of 24 m². Pigs were fed a diet computed according to standard requirements and supplied on a basis of 9% of metabolic weight (live weight^0.75). Pigs were slaughtered at 110.69 ± 0.85 kg. The rearing system did not significantly affect growth, hot and cold dressing, meat quality of m. longissimus lumborum or IMC. Outdoor pigs had less (P < 0.05) backfat thickness, slightly higher (P = 0.082) lean percent and a meat with lower pH and fat than the conventional system. In light of these results, alternative pig rearing systems with indoor space and free outdoor access could be an interesting production system for the pigs. Compared with the pigs fed diets with corn grain silage, those fed diets without corn had higher (P < 0.05) lean, ham percentage and IMC content, lower (P < 0.05) neck percentage but similar main tissue components of the ham and meat quality. Compared with the gilts, barrows were fatter and showed a meat with different physico-chemical traits, which was slightly more tender and had similar IMC properties.     

Quantitation of fumonisins in corn by HPLC with o-phthalaldehyde postcolumn derivatization and their identification by LC/MS

Fumonisins B₁(FB₁) and B₂(FB₂) were isocratically separated on a fluorocarbon column without using an ion pair reagent and nonvolatile buffer during the HPLC and were detected by an o-phthalaldehyde postcolumn derivatization system using a fluorescence detector. The minimum detectable concentrations of FB₁ and FB₂ in corn by this system were 0.01 μg/g and 0.01 μg/g, respectively. The separated fumonisins were further identified by a directly interfaced ion trap MS using electrospray ionization. FB₁ and FB₂ in naturally contaminated corn were identified in the selective ion monitoring mode at concentrations of 3.75μg/g and 1.44 μg/g, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fumonisin production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> species isolated from freshly harvested corn in Iran

Fifty-one strains of Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolated from corn collected from four different geographic areas in Iran, namely Fars, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Mazandaran (an endemic oesophageal cancer (OC) area) were evaluated for their ability to produce fumonisins B₁ (FB₁), B₂ (FB₂) and B₃ (FB₃) in corn culture. Fumonisin levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. All tested strains of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatumproduced fumonisins within a wide range of concentrations, 197–9661 g/g, 18–1974 g/g, and 21–1725 g/g for FB₁, FB₂, and FB₃, respectively. The highest mean concentrations of FB₁, FB₂, and FB₃ were 3897, 806 and 827 g/g, respectively. Overall, 61% of the F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains produced higher levels of FB₃ than FB₂. The mean ratios of FB₁:FB₂, FB₁:FB₃ and FB₁:total fumonisins were 8, 7 and 0.7 for F. verticillioides and 5.7, 10.7 and 0.7 for F. proliferatum, respectively. Significant differences in some of the meteorological data (rainfall, relative humidity and minimum temperature) from the four provinces were observed. Fumonisin levels produced by F. verticillioides strains isolated from Khuzestan province (tropical zone) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the other three provinces. This is the first report of the fumonisin-producing ability of F.verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains isolated from corn harvested from different geographic areas in Iran.     

Dietary pharmacological or excess zinc and phytase effects on tissue mineral concentrations, metallothionein, and apparent mineral retention in the newly weaned pig

Feeding pharmacological zinc (Zn) to weaned pigs improves growth, and dietary phytase improves P and Zn availability. Metallothionein (MT) increases in the duodenum, kidney, and liver of pigs fed 1000 mg Zn/kg with phytase or 2000 mg Zn/kg with or without phytase when fed for 14 d postweaning. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of feeding pharmacological Zn and phytase on tissue minerals, MT, mineral excretion, and apparent retention. Twenty-four newly weaned pigs (20 d; 7.2 kg) were individually fed twice daily, a basal diet supplemented with 0, 1000, or 4000 mg Zn/kg as Zn oxide, without or with phytase (500 phytase units [FTU]/kg) for 14 d, followed by a basal diet (100 mg Zn/kg) without phytase for 7 d. Pigs fed 4000 mg Zn/kg without phytase had higher (p=0.01) plasma, hepatic, renal Zn, renal Cu, and hepatic, renal, and jejunal MT than pigs fed the basal diet or 1000 mg Zn/kg. Duodenal MT was higher (p=0.0001) in pigs fed 1000 and 4000 mg Zn/kg than in pigs fed the basal diet. In pigs fed 1000 and 4000 mg Zn/kg, Zn loading occurred during the first 11 d of supplementation; by d 14, excess Zn was being excreted in the feces.     

Fermentation of swine waste-corn mixtures for animal feed: Pilot-plant studies

Summary Aerobic culture with solid substrates of fresh swine waste combined with corn resulted in lactic acid fermentation with odor control. Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria produced lactic and homologous tatty acids from acetic through valeric acid (0.1 meq/dry g) to reduce pH 2 units to 4.2 to 4.6. During the fermentation, lactic acid organisms increased from 10⁷ to 10⁹/dry g. Coliform organisms remained steady in number at 10⁶ organisms/dry g. Pilot-plant scale fermentation produced a product with 21 to 39% more methionine than corn but was still limiting for this amino acid as well as lysine for young pigs. Fermentation product from fresh waste-corn cultures was fed as the major dietary component to young pigs, hens, and sheep. Pigs showed gain and gain/feed diminished by one-third in 13-day trials. Laying hens performed comparably to controls in a 21-day test, and sheep did not discriminate against fermentation product.     

Fumonisins: current research trends in developmental toxicology

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) is a mycotoxin produced byFusarium verticillioides that is found in maize and maize-based foods. Reproductive studies in CD1 mice, rats and rabbits initially found no evidence that fumonisins are teratogenic. However, more recent findings suggest that they might increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in populations consuming large amounts of fumonisin-contaminated corn. When ≥15 mg/kg body weight fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) was given to pregnant LM/Bc mice by intraperitoneal (ip) injection, all litters were positive for NTDs. To determine if NTD induction is unique to the inbred LM/Bc mouse strain, NTD induction in LM/Bc and CD1 mice was compared: (a) in a study in whichF. verticillioides culture material providing ≤150 ppm FB₁ was fed to female mice before and during gestation, and (b) in a study in which FB₁ was given by ip injection to CD1 dams on gestation days 7 and 8, the critical time for NTD development. In the feeding study, one of five LM/Bc litters from dams fed the 150 ppm FB₁ diet was positive for NTDs whereas no NTDs were found in the CD1 litters. In the ip injection study, 40% of the litters at the highest dose tested, 45 mg/kg body weight, were positive for NTDs and one of nine low-dose (15 mg/kg body weight) litters was also positive. Thus, FB₁ induced NTDs in both LM/Bc and CD1 mice although the latter strain appears less sensitive. Comparative investigations using these strains will be useful for elucidating the mechanisms underlying fumonisin-induced NTDs in mice and determining the suitability of mouse models for studying the relationships between fumonisins and NTDs in humans.     

A limited survey of fumonisins in corn and corn-based products in Asian countries

Natural occurrence of fumonisins B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂), a promoter for hepato-carcinogenesis, was investigated in corn and corn — based products sampled in Japan, Nepal, and China by high — performance liquid chromatographic method. From the 9 imported corn kernel and 6 gluten feed samples, FB₁ was detected in 8 corn (0.6 ～ 4.1μg/g) and all gluten feed (0.3 ～ 2.4μg/g) samples, while FB₂ was found in the same corn (0.3 ～ 10μg/g) and 3 gluten feed (0.8 ～ 8.5μg/g) samples. ELISA analysis also revealed the contamination of aflatoxin B₁ in 2 corn and all gluten feed samples along with fumonisins. Of 17 corn grit samples, 14 and 5 samples were contaminated with fumonisin B₁ and B₂, with maximum levels of 2.6 and 2.8μg/g, respectively. As for corn-based foodstuffs marketed in Japan, no significant contamination of fumonisins was observed. Among 24 corn kernel samples in Nepal, 12 and 7 samples were positive for FB₁ and FB₂, and averaged to 0.6 and 1.6μg/g, respectively. One sample showed the highest fumonisin contents as 4.6 and 5.5μg/g, respectively. In corn samples harvested at Shanghai and Beijing, China, FB₁ and FB₂ were detected in various concentrations. Mycological survey has also revealed the presence of a fumonisin — producing fungus in a crop field of Japan. These findings have for the first time demonstrated high levels of contamination of fumonisins in corn and corn — based products in Asian countries. Natural co — occurrence of fumonisins and aflatoxin B₁ was also detected in raw materials for mixed feed.     

Mortality in broiler chicks on feed amended withFusarium proliferatum culture material or with purified fumonisin B1 and moniliformin

Two hundred twenty-eight male chicks (Columbia × New Hampshire) were given feed amended with autoclaved culture material (CM) ofFusarium proliferatum Containing fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) and moniliformin in 3 separate feeding trials. Purified FB₁ and moniliformin were given separately and in combination in a fourth feeding trial. Birds were given amended rations at day 1 (Trial 1 and 4), day 7 (Trial 2), and day 21 (Trial 3) and their respective ration was given for 28 days (Trial 1), 21 days (Trial 2), 7 days (Trial 3), and 14 days (Trial 4). FB₁ concentrations were 546, 193, and 61 ppm; FB₂ were 98, 38 and 14 ppm; and moniliformin were 367, 193, and 66 ppm in the first 3 feeding trial regimens. Chicks in Trial 4 were given dietary concentrations of purified FB₁ at 274 and 125 ppm, and moniliformin at 154 and 27 ppm. FB₁ and moniliformin, both alone and in combination, produced dose-responsive clinical signs, reduced weight gains and mortality in chicks. Age of birds given amended feeds had little difference in the clinical response; however, those given the rations from days 7 or 21 were slightly less susceptible than those given rations beginning at 1 day of age. Additive effects were noted when the toxins were given in combination. When toxins were given separately, adverse effects took longer to occur. A system to monitor pattern and rate of defecation (RD) was developed for assessing the chicks' approach to feed, water and heat source as illness progressed. Our results indicate that chicks fed corn heavily infected withF. proliferatum under field conditions could suffer acute death similar to that described for spiking mortality syndrome during the first 3 weeks of age.     

Co-occurrence of mycotoxins in swine feed produced in Portugal

A total of 404 samples of commercial swine feed from Portugal feed mills were analysed by HPLC methods for the presence of mycotoxins: 277 samples of feed for fattening pigs were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), and deoxynivalenol (DON), and 127 samples of feed for sows were analysed for ZEA and fumonisins (FB₁ + FB₂). Concerning feed for fattening pigs, 21 (7.6%) samples were positive for OTA, (2–6.8 μg/kg), 69 (24.9%) were positive for ZEA (5–73 μg/kg), and 47 (16.9%) were positive for DON (100–864 μg/kg). In feed for sows, the results showed 29.9% of positive samples for ZEA (5–57.7 μg/kg) and 8.7% positive samples for FB₁ and FB₂ (50–391.4 μg/kg). Co-occurrence of DON/ZEA was found most frequently, but simultaneous contamination with OTA/ZEA and OTA/DON was also found.     

Screening toxicity study in young carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) on feed amended with fumonisin B1

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) is one of several mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, a major fungal pathogen of corn and widely spread throughout the world. FB₁ produces a wide range of biological effects, some of which are specific for particular organs or species and some are common to all investigated animals. In this study we have evaluated subchronic toxicosis features in young carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB₁ kg^–1 body weight for 42 days through nutritionally balanced diet. During the trial we observed loss of body weight in both treated groups, together with higher incidence of infective bacterial dermatological lesions erythrodermatitis cyprini (Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. nova) in the group treated with the higher FB₁ dose. Several hematological parameters (erythrocyte count, platelet count) and serum chemical concentrations (creatinin, total bilirubin) and activities (aspartate aminotransferase, AST and alanine aminotransferase, ALT) were greater in the fumonisin treated groups than in the control group. Our results indicate that long-term dietary exposure to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB₁ kg^–1 body weight is not lethal to young carp, but can produce adverse physiological effects. These findings also suggest that primary target organs of FB₁ in the carp are kidney and liver, as it has already been observed in other animal species tested. Specifically changed red blood cell-parameters reveal that FB₁ probably causes erythrocyte membrane defect or interferes with carp's respiratory process.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.