title: Risk assessment for changes in the metabolic profile and body weights of pre-pubertal gilts during long-term monotonic exposure to low doses of zearalenone (ZEN).
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine whether the process of exposure to low doses of ZEN generates changes in the hematological and biochemical image of blood serum. During the experiment, pre-pubertal gilts (up to 25kg) were administered per os ZEN at a dose of 40μg/kg BW (Group E, n=18) or placebo (Group C, n=21) on a daily basis for 42days. Blood samples for investigation were collected seven times at intervals of one week. In the experimental groups, slight but statistically significant changes in the values of selected biochemical blood indices such as glucose, ALT, Pin, total protein and Fe, or in hematological indices such as RBC, MCV, PLT, WBC, basophils, eosinophils and monocytes were observed. Based on statistical analysis between the groups, differences in the values of WBC, basophils, peroxidase negative cells, Hb, Ht, MCV, HDW, glucose, ALT, AP, total protein, iron or potassium were found. In Group E, decreasing trends in the values of PLT and glucose, and increasing trends in the values of total protein, Pin, Na and Cl were found. The described situations occurred during the last three weeks of exposure. Low levels of exposure to ZEN lead to completely different changes in the metabolic profile than those resulting from higher doses of the toxin. The stimulatory effect of mycotoxins, observed in initial stages of exposure, is eliminated when the compensatory response and adaptive mechanisms are triggered, and due to excessive loss of energy, which may point to more efficient feed utilization and/or detoxification processes. The values of body weight gain obtained in Group E were monotonically higher in four out of the six investigated weeks of exposure. The above changes were accompanied by a decrease in glucose concentrations and higher total protein levels (a rising tendency), which could have affected the rate of body weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, St. Oczapowskiego 01/29, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland; Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 13/29, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: mgaja@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajęcka
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Sp. z o.o., St. Wolska 5, 02-675 Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarasiuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 13/29, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: lukaszz@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Zielonka
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 13/29, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: michal.dabrowski@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dąbrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 13/29, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: gajecki@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajęcki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D055442:Metabolome / Q000187:drug effects*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D009183:Mycotoxins; D015025:Zearalenone
keywords: Blood biochemical indices; Body weight; Hematological indices; Pre-pubertal gilts; Zearalenone in low doses