title: Immunotoxicity of ochratoxin A to growing gilts.
abstract: Ochratoxin A (OA) was incorporated in the diets of growing gilts (mean body weight, 20.1 kg) at a concentration of 2.5 mg of OA/kg of feed and was fed continuously for 35 days. Humoral and cell-mediated immunologic measurements were evaluated to determine the effects of OA on immune function in swine. Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin, PHA-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis, interleukin-2 production, total and isotype immunoglobulin concentrations, antibody response to chicken RBC, and macrophage activation were used to evaluate immune function. Gilts treated with OA had reduced cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response to PHA, reduced delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin, decreased stimulation index for lymphoblastogenesis, decreased interleukin-2 production when lymphocytes were stimulated with concanavalin A, and decreased number and phagocytic activity of macrophages. Differences were not observed for total and isotype immunoglobulin concentrations, or humoral hemagglutination (chicken RBC) titer. These data indicate that OA may suppress cell-mediated immune response in growing swine.
authors.affiliation: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Food Animal Protection Research Laboratory, College Station, TX 77845.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Elissalde
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Kubena
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Corrier
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A