Clinical and Hematologic Effects of T-2 Toxin in Rats

Lethality, time to death, histopathology, body temperature, food intake, body weights, and white blood counts were measured in male Fisher-344 rats before and after administration of T-2 toxin to rats by nasal, oral, dermal, and parenteral routes. Potency as measured by LD50 values (mg/kg) at 24 hr, from greatest to least, were intramuscular (0.47) intranasal (0.56) subcutaneous (0.58) intravenous (1.17) oral (2.29) intraperitoneal (2.44) dermal (in dimethylsulfoxide) (DMSO) (2.56) dermal (in ethanol) (5.81 at 10 days). Mean time to death (MTDL) was less than 24 hr in all instances, except by dermal (in ethanol) exposure, which was nearly one (1) week. MTD changed little from lower to higher doses. T-2 toxin by dermal and parental routes exerted changes in behavior (activity, food intake), body temperature, and hematologic parameters with substantial histologic evidence of toxicity to rapidly dividing cells. Onset of action was within hours and recovery occurred over weeks in surviving animals.