Intestinal metabolism of T-2 toxin in the pig cecum model

Mycotoxin Res. 2012 Aug;28(3):191-8. doi: 10.1007/s12550-012-0134-y. Epub 2012 Jul 5.

Abstract

T-2 toxin, a toxic member of the group A trichothecenes, is produced by various Fusarium species that can potentially affect human health. As the intestine plays an important role in the metabolism of T-2 toxin for animals and humans, the degradation and metabolism of T-2 toxin was studied using the pig cecum in vitro model system developed in the author's group. In order to study the intestinal degradation of T-2 toxin by pig microbiota, incubation was performed with the cecal chyme from four different pigs in repeat determinations. A large variation in the intestinal degradation of T-2 toxin was observed for individual pigs. T-2 toxin was degraded almost completely in one out of four pigs, in which only 3.0 ± 0.1 % of T-2 toxin was left after 24 h incubation. However, in the other three incubations with pig cecal suspension, 54.1 ± 11.7-68.9 ± 16.1 % of T-2 toxin were still detectable after 24 h incubation time. The amount of HT-2 toxin was increased along with the incubation time, and HT-2 toxin accounted for 85.2 ± 0.7 % after 24 h in the most active cecum. HT-2 toxin was the only detectable metabolite formed by the intestinal bacteria. This study suggests that the toxicity of T-2 toxin for pigs is caused by the combination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Availability
  • Cecum / metabolism*
  • Cecum / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Models, Biological*
  • Swine
  • T-2 Toxin / analogs & derivatives*
  • T-2 Toxin / chemistry
  • T-2 Toxin / metabolism*
  • T-2 Toxin / toxicity
  • Trichothecenes / chemistry
  • Trichothecenes / metabolism
  • Trichothecenes / toxicity

Substances

  • Trichothecenes
  • T-2 Toxin
  • HT-2 toxin