Immunosuppressive action of deoxynivalenol of thymus in chickens

Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) is a type B-trichothecene, naturally occurring contaminants of animal feed, being implicated in several mycotoxicoses in farm livestock. This mycotoxin occurs predominantly in grains such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, and maize, and less often in rice, sorghum, and triticale. Deoxynivalenol is potent nefrotoxic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressant. High doses of trichothecenes promote rapid onset of leukocyte apoptosis (programmed cell death), which is manifested as immunosuppression. The study aimed to prove the immunosuppressant action of deoxynivalenol in chickens experimentally treated each day, from the 7th day of life, using 5,4 mg/kg b.w in E group for 28 days (since 35 days of life). Histopathology studies of thymus were made on 7th , 14th, 21st and 28th days of experiment. In E group small lesions of thymus were observed even after 7th day of poisoning but intense lesions, hydropic degeneration, necrotic foci and moderate lymphoid depletion was observed after the 14th and 21st day of poisoning. After 28th day a marked proliferation of stromal cells in the reticulum network, in medulla zone, presence of mucous cells, small mucous cysts and haemorages were observed.