Serum IgA-Promoting Effects Induced by Feed Loads Containing Isolated Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Growing Piglets

Publication Type

Journal contribution

Authors

Drochner, W., M. Schollenberger, H.-P. Piepho, S. Götz, U. Lauber, M. Tafaj, F. Klobasa, U. Weiler, R. Claus and M. Steffl

Year of publication

2004

Published in

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

Band/Volume

67/

Page (from - to)

1051-1067

Keywords

Deoxynivalenol, Fusarium toxin, IgA, IGF-1, piglet

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium toxin belonging to the trichothecene group, has been reported to produce a variety of adverse health effects in farm animals such as inhibition of protein synthesis, reduction of feed intake and alteration of the immune system. In pigs, the effects of increasing levels of chemically pure DON in a semisynthetic diet on performance, health and serum immunglobulin A (IgA)-levels were examined. A diet, without grain components and trichothecene free (8 main trichothecenes), with doses of 0, 300, 600 and 1200 µg of pure DON/kg was fed to 34 female pigs for a period of 8 weeks after weaning under standardized conditions. Body weight gain, biochemical and hematological values in the blood and serum including concentrations of IgA, blood glucose, cortisol and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were determined. Increasing levels of DON in the feed induced a significant depression of glucose levels. Cortisol and IGF-1 levels were not significantly affected but differed between groups at the end of the experiment. A significant increase of IgA concentration in the serum even at a dosage-level of 600 µg DON/kg feed was observed. This is the first report demonstrating in vivo that limited dosages of DON are able to stimulate IgA-levels in the serum of growing piglets.