Toxic effects to mink of moniliformin extracted from Fusarium fujikuroi culture material.

Acute and subacute effects of i.p. exposure to moniliformin in mink (Mustela vison) were investigated. Moniliformin was extracted from Fusarium fujikuroi culture material containing 9,174 ppm moniliformin. An acute LD50 between 2.2 and 2.8 mg moniliformin/kg bw was determined for 9-mo-old female mink. Subacute exposure to 1.5 to 3.2 mg total moniliformin/kg bw resulted in dilated (right side) hearts rounded in appearance. Statistical differences observed in serum chloride and albumin, amylase activities, spun packed-cell volumes, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentrations, and hematocrit values between control and moniliformin-dosed mink were considered biologically insignificant because values were within ranges reported for normal mink. Electron microscopic examination of the right ventricular free heart wall of mink receiving acute or subacute doses of moniliformin revealed ultrastructural damage to myofibers, mitochondria, nuclei, Z- and M-lines and sarcoplasmic reticula, and increased extracellular collagen deposition. These results showed that mink are among the more sensitive mammals to moniliformin and that this mycotoxin specifically targets and damages the hearts of mink.