Chicken nucleated blood cells as a cellular model for genotoxicity testing using the comet assay

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Genetics
• Animal Science

Background:

• Mycotoxins, particularly T-2 toxin, pose significant risks in animal feed and human food.
• T-2 toxin is a highly toxic trichothecene linked to various animal and human diseases.
• The comet assay is a validated method for detecting DNA damage in human white blood cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a protocol for detecting T-2 toxin-induced DNA damage in chicken blood cells using the comet assay.
• To establish the comet assay as a suitable biomarker for genotoxic analysis in poultry.

Main Methods:

• Chickens were orally administered T-2 toxin.
• Whole blood samples were collected 24 hours post-treatment.
• DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay by analyzing comet parameters.

Main Results:

• T-2 toxin administration resulted in significant DNA damage in chicken blood cells compared to controls.
• The comet assay demonstrated increased comet parameters in treated chickens, indicating genotoxicity.
• The developed protocol successfully detected primary DNA damage induced by T-2 toxin.

Conclusions:

• The comet assay is a viable and sensitive method for assessing T-2 toxin-induced DNA damage in chicken blood.
• This assay serves as a valuable biomarker for mycotoxin genotoxicity in poultry, contributing to food safety assessments.
• The established protocol enables the application of genotoxic analysis in avian species for toxicological studies.