The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profile in plasma showed that a large proportion of FX was recovered as NIV /nivalenol/ after administration of FX in both broilers and ducks. In vitro incubation of liver microsomal and cytosolic fractions with FX demonstrated that the liver and kidney are capable of the FX-to-NIV conversion...
Experiments with subfractions of rat liver revealed that fusarenon-X & T-2 toxin were deacetylated at C-4 (R2) by microsomal esterase & yielded nivalenol & HT-2 toxin, respectively. These findings indicate that the trichothecenes admin to mice & rats are metabolized by liver enzyme(s) into deacetylated products, which are then eliminated in the feces & urine.
The HPLC profile of radioactivity of acetonitrile extracts of urine and feces indicated that FX is rapidly metabolized to NIV after being absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In vitro incubation of tissue homogenates with (3)H-FX demonstrated that the liver and kidney are the organs responsible for the FX-to-NIV conversion...
...plant metabolites of mycotoxins, also called masked mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites, toxic to human and animals. Toxigenic fungi often grow on edible plants, thus contaminating food and feed. Plants, as living organisms, can alter the chemical structure of mycotoxins as part of their defence against xenobiotics. The extractable conjugated or non-extractable bound mycotoxins formed remain present in the plant tissue but are currently neither routinely screened for in food nor regulated by legislation, thus they may be considered masked. Fusarium mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins, nivalenol, fusarenon-X, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, fusaric acid) are prone to metabolism or binding by plants, but transformation of other mycotoxins by plants (ochratoxin A, patulin, destruxins) has also been described. Toxicological data are scarce, but several studies highlight the potential threat to consumer safety from these substances. In particular, the possible hydrolysis of masked mycotoxins back to their toxic parents during mammalian digestion raises concerns.
Trichothecenes are a group of mycotoxins mainly produced by the fungi of Fusarium genus. Consumers are particularly concerned over the toxicity and food safety of trichothecenes and their metabolites from food-producing animals. The metabolism of T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (FX), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), 3-acetyldeoxy-nivalenol (3-aDON), and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-aDON) in rodents, swine, ruminants, poultry, and humans are reviewed in this article. Metabolic pathways of these mycotoxins are very different. The major metabolic pathways of T-2 toxin in animals are hydrolysis, hydroxylation, de-epoxidation, and conjugation. After being transformed to HT-2 toxin, it undergoes further hydroxylation at C-3' to yield 3'-hydroxy-HT-2 toxin, which is considered as an activation pathway, whereas transformation from T-2 to T-2 tetraol is an inactivation pathway in animals. The typical metabolites of T-2 toxin in animals are HT-2 toxin, T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol, neosolaniol (NEO), 3'-hydroxy-HT-2, and 3'-hydroxy-T-2, whereas HT-2 toxin is the main metabolite in humans. De-epoxidation is an important pathway for detoxification in animals. De-epoxy products, DOM-1, and de-epoxy-NIV are the main metabolites of DON and NIV in most animals, respectively. However, the two metabolites are not found in humans. Deacetyl can occur rapidly on the acetyl derivatives, 3-aDON, 15-aDON, and FX. DAS is metabolized in animals to 15-monoacetoxyscirpenol (15-MAS) via C-4 deacetylation and then transformed to scirpentriol (SCP) via C-15 deacetylation. Finally, the epoxy is lost, yielding de-epoxy-SCP. De-epoxy-15-MAS is also the main metabolite of DAS. 15-MAS is the main metabolite in human skin. The review on the metabolism of trichothecenes will help one to well understand the fate of these toxins' future in animals and humans, as well as provide basic information for the risk assessment of them for food safety.
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of toxins derived from Fusarium graminearum. No data were available on the carcinogenicity to humans of toxins derived from F. crookwellense and F. culmorum. ... There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of fusarenone X. ... Overall evaluation: Toxins derived from Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum and F. crookwellense are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent trichothecene mycotoxin in crops in Europe and North America. DON is often present with other type B trichothecenes such as 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), nivalenol (NIV) and fusarenon-X (FX). Although the cytotoxicity of individual mycotoxins has been widely studied, data on the toxicity of mycotoxin mixtures are limited. The aim of this study was to assess interactions caused by co-exposure to Type B trichothecenes on intestinal epithelial cells. Proliferating Caco-2 cells were exposed to increasing doses of Type B trichothecenes, alone or in binary or ternary mixtures. The MTT test and neutral red uptake, respectively linked to mitochondrial and lysosomal functions, were used to measure intestinal epithelial cytotoxicity. The five tested mycotoxins had a dose-dependent effect on proliferating enterocytes and could be classified in increasing order of toxicity: 3-ADON<15-ADON equal approx. DON<NIV much less FX. Binary or ternary mixtures also showed a dose-dependent effect. At low concentrations (cytotoxic effect between 10 and 30-40%), mycotoxin combinations were synergistic; however DON-NIV-FX mixture showed antagonism. At higher concentrations (cytotoxic effect around 50%), the combinations had an additive or nearly additive effect. These results indicate that the simultaneous presence of low doses of mycotoxins in food commodities and diet may be more toxic than predicted from the mycotoxins alone. Considering the frequent co-occurrence of trichothecenes in the diet and the concentrations of toxins to which consumers are exposed, this synergy should be taken into account.
/SRP:/ Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR if necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on the left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Poisons A and B/
/SRP:/ Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poisons A and B/
/SRP:/ Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Consider administering a beta agonist such as albuterol for severe bronchospasm ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poisons A and B/
Following... ip injection in mice, most of a dose of (3)H-fusarenon-X was rapidly excreted in the urine; almost no radioactivity remained in the tissues after 3 hr.
(3)H-fusarenon-X sc injected in mice was rapidly absorbed from the injection site & distributed to the liver, kidneys, intestines, & other organs. About 25% of the total radioactivity was eliminated in the urine within 24 hr.
Thirty minutes after subcutaneous administration of uniformly labeled (3)H-fusarenone X at 4 mg/kg body weight to mice, activity was found in liver, kidneys, intestines, stomach, spleen, bile and plasma; none was detected in heart, brain or testis. The highest activity, corresponding to 3% of the dose, was observed in the liver. Twelve hours after administration, no label was present in the organs, and 25% of the dose was recovered as metabolized forms of fusarenone X in the urine.
In order to investigate the comparative fates and dispositions of fusarenon-X (FX) in broilers and ducks, FX was administered i.v. or orally (p.o.) to broilers and ducks. The FX and its metabolite (nivalenol, NIV) were determined in plasma and excreta using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The plasma concentrations of FX were determined up to 180 and 120 min in broilers and ducks, respectively, after i.v. and p.o. administration. The NIV was eliminated more slowly than its parent compound... Thus, this study demonstrated that FX is absorbed more efficiently in ducks than in broilers, whereas it is eliminated more slowly in ducks than in broiler chickens.
In order to investigate the comparative fates of nivalenol (NIV) and 4-acetyl derivative of NIV (fusarenon-X, FX) in mice, (3)H-FX or (3)H-NIV was given p.o. to mice. Radioactivity was excreted mainly via the urine in mice given (3)H-FX, but mainly via the feces in mice given (3)H-NIV. The plasma radioactivity reached a peak at 30 or 60 min after the administration of (3)H-FX or (3)H-NIV, respectively. The plasma peak level was 5 times higher, and the area under curve (AUC) was 10 times higher, in (3)H-FX-administered than (3)H-NIV-administered mice. These findings clearly demonstrate that FX is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract more rapidly and efficiently than NIV... Thus this study demonstrated that the higher oral toxicity of FX than NIV that has been observed in mice and rats is due to the efficient absorption of FX than NIV from the gastrointestinal tract, followed by its rapid conversion to NIV by the liver and kidney.