How to Treat Trichothecenes in Animals
Delivered March 27, 2020. Contributor: Seyi A.
Goals
To learn more about treatment options for domesticated animals affected by trichothecenes, especially those with respiratory exposure.
Early Findings
Treatment Options
Stoppage of exposure
- Cutting off exposure can prevent further growth of trichothecene concentration in the animal, ensuring less severe side-effects and more successful treatment in the animal.
Activated Charcoal
- Use of activated charcoal is recommended for trichothecene toxins that were taken through the mouth.
- Activated charcoal works by adsorbing the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract and preventing it from causing damage to the animal’s cells.
Dexamethasone
- Laboratory studies have shown that the survival rate in affected animals that were treated with dexamethasone is greater than 50%.
Magnesium Sulphate
- Use of magnesium sulphate has been shown to be helpful in managing acute cases of trichothecene toxicity in pigs.
- This treatment is more effective when used together with activated charcoal.
De-Epoxidation
- This involves the use of an enzyme derived from bacteria to de-epoxidize the trichothecene. The chemical structure of trichothecenes is made up of the 12,13-epoxy-trichothec-9-ene nucleus. The 12,13-epoxide ring is responsible for their toxicity and damages to cells.
- De-epoxidation is the degradation of the trichothecene’s epoxide group.
- The process by which this occurs is called biotransformation and deoxynivalenol is converted to deepoxydeoxynivalenol.
Proposed next steps:
You need to be the project owner to select a next step.