Immune studies with T-2 toxin: effect of feeding and withdrawal in monkeys.
Ingestion of T-2 toxin, a product of Fusarium fungi, has been reported to have a variety of effects leading to morbidity and mortality in animals and humans. Semi-purified T-2 toxin was given to monkeys by gastric intubation at a level of 100 microgram/kg body weight/day for 4-5 wk and the haematological and immune parameters were studied before and after the treatment. Leucocyte counts were depressed at the end of wk 4 of treatment. The immunological studies studies showed suppression of the bactericidal activity of neutrophils, of cell-mediated immune status as assessed by T-cell number and lymphocyte transformation, and of humoral immunity as reflected in B-cell number and IgG and IgM levels. However serum complement (CH50) did not show any change. Investigations carried out 5 months after withdrawal of the toxin indicated that these parameters had returned almost to the initial, pretreatment levels. These data suggest that the greater incidence of infection seen in mycotoxin-ingesting animals may be due to immune suppression. Withdrawal of the mycotoxin results in improvement of haematological and immune functions.
D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D013605:T-2 Toxin