The effects of T-2 toxin, Fusarenon X (FX), and Nivalenol (NV) on the bursa of Fabricius in the day-old chick were examined.
After injections of 5 mg/kg of the mycotoxins into the residual yolk sac, cellular injury was limited at first to the smaller
epithelial cells with coarse microvilli, which were located in the central portion of the follicle-associated epithelium.
Subsequently necrosis spread out to the periphery. Degeneration and necrosis followed in the lymphoid cells in the lymphoid
follicles. The other epithelial components in the follicle were relatively resistant to the mycotoxins. Both FX and NV were
less potent than T-2 toxin, although the effects on the bursa of Fabricius were essentially the same. These findings suggest
that the follicle-associated epithelium is clearly distinguished from other epithelial components in the bursa of Fabricius
in day-old chicks.
Key words T-2 toxin - Nivalenol - Fusarenon-X - Bursa of Fabricius - Follicle-associated epithelium - Day-old chick
This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Research of Injuries in Haematopoetic Organs by Mycotoxins from Science
and Technology Agency