Research Outline

How to Treat Trichothecenes in Animals

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.