Interaction of T-2 fusariotoxin with anticoccidial efficacy of lasalocid in chickens.

Two battery tests were carried out to reveal whether or not there is an interaction between T-2 fusariotoxin and lasalocid, similar to that known with some ionophorous anticoccidials. In the first experiment, an excessive dose level of toxin (6 ppm) significantly reduced the anticoccidial efficacy of lasalocid at 75 ppm and almost completely eliminated that at 37.5 ppm in cockerels which had been infected with oocysts of Eimeria tenella and E. mitis. In the second experiment, the same dose of lasalocid was tested in combination with 0.5-1.25 ppm levels of toxin, i.e. levels occurring in the field, and all but the lowest level (0.5 ppm) significantly reduced the anticoccidial efficacy of lasalocid. Thus, in cases of outbreaks of coccidiosis, there is need to keep in mind such interaction between anticoccidials and mycotoxins.