Changes in Complement Activity, Serum Proteins, and Prothrombin Time in Guinea Pigs Fed Rubratoxin Alone or in Combination with Aflatoxin

SUMMARY The effects of rubratoxin alone and in combination with aflatoxin given orally to guinea pigs were studied. The combination of aflatoxin and rubratoxin given orally for 3 weeks seemed to produce mortality higher than that produced by rubratoxin alone. Rubratoxin given alone at a dose level of 6 mg/day suppressed complement activity. All doses of toxins (aflatoxin at 0.01 mg/day and rubratoxin at 2 to 10 mg/day) administered to guinea pigs caused highly significant reduction in body weight, and all doses of rubratoxin (2 to 10 mg/day) given alone caused significant increase in prothrombin time of serum. Changes in total serum proteins did not occur in any of the treated guinea pigs, although in guinea pigs given rubratoxin alone, β-globulin was decreased and γ-globulin was increased. Aflatoxin (0.01 mg/day) given in combination with 6 mg of rubratoxin per day seemed to increase the concentration of γ-globulin in serum of guinea pigs.