The role of T-2 toxin in experimental alimentary toxic aleukia: A toxicity study in cats

The Role of T-2 Toxin in Experimental Alimentary Toxic Aleukia: A Toxicity Study in Cats. Lutsky, I., Mor, N., Yagen, B., and Joffe, A. Z. (1978). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 43, 111-124. The toxicity in cats of T-2 toxin [3α-hydroxy-4β,15-diacetoxy-8α-(3-methylbutyroloxy)-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene] and a fusarial extract containing T-2 toxin was investigated. Both compounds were derived from an "authentic" strain of Fusarium sporotrichioides involved in a clinical outbreak of alimentary toxic aleukia (ATA). T-2 toxin administered in gelatin capsules per os produced a severe intoxication, characterized initially by vomiting, ataxia, and bloody feces, and subsequently by anorexia, weight loss, dyspnea, paralysis, and death. The mean survival time was inversely related to the amount of T-2 toxin ingested (dosage 0.06 to 0.10 mg/kg). A generalized pancytopenia, with marked leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were consistent hematologic findings. Severe emaciation, intestinal hemorrhage, and enlarged lymph nodes were frequently seen at necropsy. Common histologic observations included necrosis of intestinal epithelium, pulmonary edema, hemorrhagic lymph nodes, and cloudy swelling of the renal tubules. Cats receiving the same fusarial extract, from which T-2 toxin had been removed, remained healthy and showed no gross or histologic changes. No disease-related role can be postulated for unsaturated steroidal lactones, as previously proposed by Soviet authors. Our results establish that the trichothecene T-2 toxin is that component in the extract of F. sporotrichioides responsible for the ATA-like syndrome in the test animals, and that T-2 toxin of itself can produce all of the signs, symptoms, and pathologic changes associated with this disease.