Mycotoxicosis caused by either T-2 toxin or diacetoxyscirpenol in the diet of broiler chickens

Abstract

Seven-day-old male broiler chickens were fed either T-2 toxin or diacetoxyscirpenol at 4 and 16 ppm for 21 days and had reductions of feed consumption and of weight gain. Focal, yellow, oral plaques developed by day 2 and were located around salivary duct openings on the palate, tongue, and buccal floor. The plaques progressed to raised, yellowish-gray crusts which covered ulcers. Microscopically, the ulcers had a base of granulation tissue and inflammatory cells, and the crusts comprised exudate, bacterial colonies and feed components. T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol produced similar effects at these concentrations. Comparable lesions also occurred in chickens fed T-2 toxin at 50, 100, or 300 ppm for 7 days. Six of 10 chickens died in the 300-ppm group which received an average daily exposure of about 10 mg T-2 toxin/kg body weight. In dead chickens, the lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues and alimentary mucosa were necrotic. Necrosis was seen less frequently in the liver, kidney and the feather. Survivors of the 7-day studies had atrophied lymphoid organs and were anemic.