Effects of feeding fumonisin B1 in lactating sows and their suckling pigs

SUMMARY The mycotoxin fumonisin B 1 ( FB 1 ) produced by Fusarium moniliforme in corn causes pulmonary edema in finishing swine. Effects of lower nonlethal amounts and effects in lactating sows with suckling pigs are unknown. An initial study was conducted to determine a nonlethal concentration of FB 1 for lactating sows; whether ingested FB 1 could be detected in the milk; and whether toxicosis could be detected in the pigs, as determined by necropsy. Another study was conducted to determine toxicosis in the pigs by measuring liver sphinganine-to-sphingosine ratio, and whether ingested FB 1 affected T-lymphocyte function in sows and their pigs. Furthermore, sows of this study were maintained in controlled hot (27 to 32 C, 50 to 70% relative humidity) and thermoneutral (21 C, 55% relative humidity) environments to determine whether high temperature exacerbated the effects of FB 1 . In the first study, 100 μg of FB 1 /g of corn soybean meal diet was found to be nonlethal when fed for 14 days. Fumonisin B 1 was not detected in the milk at 30 ppb and lesions were not found in the necropsied pigs, including 1 from a sow that died of porcine pulmonary edema syndrome after ingesting FB 1 at a concentration of 175 ppm. In the second study, differences in liver sphinganine-to-sphingosine ratio of pigs were not found. Expressions of cell surface antigens on blood lymphocytes and lymphocyte proliferation response to various mitogens were not affected by FB 1 or high temperature in sows or their pigs. The results indicated that when sows ingested nonlethal concentrations of FB 1 for 17 days, there were no detectable amounts of FB 1 in the sows' milk and no evidence of toxicosis in their pigs; no significant effect of FB 1 on T-lymphocyte function in sows and pigs; and no enhanced toxic effects of FB 1 attributable to high temperatures.