Rubratoxin B mycotoxicosis in the Syrian hamster

The LD 50 for rubratoxin B dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide and administered to Syrian golden hamsters by ip injection was 0.4 (0.2–0.8) mg/kg body weight. The greatest number of deaths occurred 6–24 hr after administration. Gross alterations consisted of congestion of the liver, spleen and kidneys and histopathological alterations involved congestion of the spleen and congestion and mild degenerative changes in hepatocytes. In a second study, rubratoxin B was administered ip daily for 1 wk at doses of 25, 50 and 75% of the ip LD 50. Mortality was greatest in the 50 and 75% dose groups. Toxicity was cumulative with multiple doses. Gross alterations were similar to those found in the LD 50 study. Histopathological alterations included renal tubular degeneration and necrosis and focal necrosis of hepatocytes. The morphopathogenesis of lesions following a single ip LD 50 dose was evaluated in a third study. Histopathological alterations were limited to the kidney and were characterized by renal tubular degeneration and necrosis. Renal lesions were first seen at 2 hr after administration and increased in severity to a maximum at 20 hr. Tubular regeneration was first seen at 24 hr and was found to the end of the test period (72 hr). Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum concentrations of total and indirect bilirubin were increased by 8 hr after dosing and returned to control values by the end of the test period. In a fourth study, rubratoxin B was administered ip daily for 1 wk at a dose of 25% of the ip LD 50. Gross alterations were similar to those in the other studies. Histopathological alterations included progressive renal tubular degeneration and necrosis. Serum activities of AST and ALT and concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were progressively increased with increasing numbers of doses. Urinalysis indicated progressive renal tubular damage.