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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192481
Title: CATABOLISM OF MACROCYCLIC TRICHOTHECENE MYCOTOXINS IN GOATS EXPOSED TO STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUM CONIDIA

Author
item LAYTON, R. - TEXAS TECH UNIV
item Purdy, Charles
item STRAUS, DAVID - TEXAS TECH UNIV

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2006
Publication Date: 5/31/2006
Citation: Layton, R.C., Purdy, C.W., Straus, D.C. 2006. Catabolism of macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins in goats exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum conidia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting, May 21-25, 2006, Orlando, Florida. Abstract Number Q-379.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins (MTM) have been detected in the air of buildings contaminated with Stachybotrys chartarum as well as in the serum of individuals occupying these structures. However, how long MTM remain detectable in vivo after exposure has not been investigated. In this study we attempted to detect MTM at various time periods in goats after pulmonary exposure. To examine MTM databolism, six Spanish\Boar cross goats were exposed to S. chartarum spores and MTM. The strain of S. chartarum employed was shown to be toxic in a yeast assay prior to use in the experiments to produce MTM using QuantiTox kits (EnviroLogix, Portland, ME) an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for MTM. Based on the ELISA, we estimated the goats were exposed to 2 mg MTM per instillation. Six exposures with 30 ml of physiologic saline with a mean suspension of 8 X 10**9 conidia per exposure each were given weekly over six weeks via intratracheal instillation immediately following exposure to aerosolized sterile feedlot dust. To administer the dust the animals were contained inside a semi-airtight tent where the sterilized dust was aerosolized for four hours. Rectal temperatures, white blood cell (WBC) counts, and serum samples were taken 24 hours prior, 24 hours post, and 72 hours post exposure. The sera were prepared using acetonitrile in order to remove high molecular weight proteins prior to use in the ELISA. Rectal temperatures and mean white blood cell counts of the goats exposed to S. chartarum were elevated to a maximum of 39.8 °C and 24,000 WBC/uL, respectively. The results from the ELISA showed no MTM in the sera samples. Data from this study suggest that MTM are not detectable 24 and 72 hours after exposure to S. chartarum conidia. These results demonstrated that MTM were rapidly catabolized in vivo and by 24 hours post-exposure, no MTM were detectable in serum.