Modeling the emetic potencies of food-borne trichothecenes by benchmark dose methodology.
Trichothecene mycotoxins commonly co-contaminate cereal products. They cause immunosuppression, anorexia, and emesis in multiple species. Dietary exposure to such toxins often occurs in mixtures. Hence, if it were possible to determine their relative toxicities and assign toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) to each trichothecene, risk management and regulation of these mycotoxins could become more comprehensive and simple. We used a mink emesis model to compare the toxicities of deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenon-X, HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin. These toxins were administered to mink via gavage and intraperitoneal injection. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benchmark dose software was used to determine benchmark doses for each trichothecene. The relative potencies of each of these toxins were calculated as the ratios of their benchmark doses to that of DON. Our results showed that mink were more sensitive to orally administered toxins than to toxins administered by IP. T-2 and HT-2 toxins caused the greatest emetic responses, followed by FX, and then by DON, its acetylated derivatives, and NIV. Although these results provide key information on comparative toxicities, there is still a need for more animal based studies focusing on various endpoints and combined effects of trichothecenes before TEFs can be established.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 469 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Denis
D
Male
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 469 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Wenda
W
Wu
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 469 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Nicole J
NJ
Mitchell
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Steven
S
Bursian
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 469 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
James J
JJ
Pestka
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 469 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: fwu@msu.edu.
Felicia
F
Wu
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004639:Emetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005506:Food Contamination; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008907:Mink; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced*
D004639:Emetics; D014255:Trichothecenes
Deoxynivalenol; Emesis; Mycotoxins; Toxic equivalency factor