Rubratoxins

RUBRATOXINS

  • Sources
    • Rubratoxins A and B are produced by P. rubrum and P. purpurogenum.
    • Both are common soil fungi.
    • Exposure to the toxin is through cereal grains-primarily corn.
    • The natural distribution of rubratoxin is not well established.
    • Male and female rats are equally susceptible; but neonates are 49 times as susceptible as adults.
    • At sufficient doses, chronic dosing causes same effects; but animals getting subclinical doses had no lesions suggesting effective detoxification.
    • Long plasma half-life ( in days); most of the toxin is excreted in urine as parent compound (rats) and slightly less excreted in feces.
    • Mutagen, embryocidal, teratogenic in mice. So far carcinogenicity has bot been established in rats.
    • May potentiate the action of aflatoxin.
  • Signs
    • Clinical syndrome is similar to acute aflatoxicosis with anorexia, dehydration, diarrhoea and possibly hemorrhage.
    • It has been implicated in abortions in swine.
  • Lesions
    • Acute and chronic syndrome characterized by hepatotoxic insult, nephrosis and general bleeding tendency.
    • Congestion, hemorrhage and damage to liver, kidney and spleen.
    • Early midzonal hepatic necrosis.
    • Later extending to massive necrosis and replacement with hemorrhage with chronic doses.
Last modified: Sunday, 30 October 2011, 11:02 AM