Mycotoxicosis caused by a single dose of T-2 toxin or diacetoxyscirpenol in broiler chickens

T-2 toxin (3-hydroxy-4,15-diacetoxy-8-[3-methyl-butyrloxy]-12,13-epoxy-delta 9-trichothecene) and diacetoxyscirpenol, structurally similar trichothecene mycotoxins, in dimethylsulfoxide:saline (1:9 v/v) solvent, were given by crop gavage to 7-day-old male broiler chickens. Selected birds were killed at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 72, and 168 hours post-treatment. The lesions induced by the two toxins were similar, but were more severe in chicks given T-2 toxin. Necrosis of lymphoid tissue and bone marrow began one hour after treatment with T-2 toxin, and was followed by rapid cell depletion. Cell repletion also was rapid, occurring by hour 24 in mildly injured tissues from birds given diacetoxyscirpenol and by hours 72 and 168 in more severely injured tissues from chickens given T-2 toxin. Hepatic lesions were multiple foci of cell necrosis resolved rapidly and the inflammatory cell reaction was minimal. Necrosis of gall bladder epithelium and secondary cholecystitis followed hepatic cell necrosis. In the alimentary tract, necrosis of the epithelium on the tips of villi in the duodenum was followed by necrosis of the epithelium of villi and crypts in the small and large intestine, and of mucosal epithelium of the proventriculus and ventriculus. Atrophy of intestinal villi and fewer mitotic figures were seen by 18 hours after treatment. The alimentary tract epithelium, however, looked normal by hour 72. Lesions in the integument, including necrosis of feather epidermis and of the follicular epidermis at the neck of the feather follicle, occurred at 12 to 24 hours after treatment.