Systemic effects of topical application of T-2 toxin in mice

Topical application of T-2 toxin in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in the death of 20/20 mice in the 20-, 30-, and 40-mg/kg body weight (BW) dose groups within 4 to 6 days after application, whereas 17/20 and 5/20 animals died in the 10- and 5 mg/kg BW groups, respectively, within 7 days. Histological examination of thymus, spleen, and duodenum at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hr after topical application of 5 or 40 mg/kg BW to mice revealed that the characteristic radiomimetic effects of this trichothecene mycotoxin are easily recognizable at 6 hr after topical application, with the severity of damage being dependent on the organ and time. The lesions are quantitatively and qualitatively identical with those seen after intragastrical application of T-2 toxin. Both the postmortem and, to some extent, the general histological findings were not specific enough to arrive at an etiological diagnosis without prior knowledge of the fact that a mycotoxin was applied to the skin, unless one had the opportunity to look for the characteristic intestinal lesions prior to 24 hr after application, or for necrosis in spleen an thymus after 24 hr.