Action of a mycotoxin (diacetoxyscirpenol) on the immune response of the mouse--interaction with an immunomodulator (OM-89).

The action of diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)--a mycotoxin that belongs to the family of trichothecenes--on the immune system of the mouse was investigated. Two experimental models were used: 1) bacterial infection with Salmonella typhimurium and 2) the PFC (plaque-forming cells) test on the splenic lymphocytes of the mouse. The results obtained showed that these were dependent on the chronological order of the administration of DAS. When the toxin was administered after a bacterial infection or antigenic stimulation, it was observed an increase in the mortality rate and a very significant decrease in the antibody response. By contrast, when this mycotoxin was administered before the bacterial infection or antigenic stimulation, the results obtained were close to those from the controls. The importance of the administration of an immunomodulator of bacterial origin OM-89 before the immunodepression with DAS was shown.