Effect of T-2 toxin on feed intake, digestion and pathology of rabbits

Feed containing sublethal T-2 toxin concentrations (12.5 and 25 ppm) was fed to adult rabbits. The animals ate 60-70% less toxin-containing food. The dry matter content of their feces decreased significantly (on an average by 10%). The nutrient digestibility of the feed containing 12.5 ppm T-2 toxin, was increased by 2-6% and that of the 25 ppm T-2 toxin level decreased by 4-11% as compared to the control values. The rabbits showed emaciation, subacute catarrhal gastritis, necrosis of the lymphoid cells of the intestinal mucosa, depletion and necrosis in the lymphoid follicles of the ampulla ilei, spleen and lymph nodes. Necrosis of the cells of mononuclear phagocyte system and myeloid hemacytogenesis was characteristic. The toxin concentration of feces, cecotroph and urine was proportional to intake.