Fatal placental hemorrhage in pregnant CD-1 mice following one oral dose of T-2 toxin.

Abstract

Forty-eight hours after oral administration of a single dose (3.0 mg/kg BW) of T-2 toxin to mice on days 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 of pregnancy, 17% maternal mortality following vaginal hemorrhage was encountered. Necropsy examination of the dead females revealed that massive hemorrhages originating from the placental regions had occurred into the reproductive tract. This observation supports the studies in which hemorrhagic disease has been described as characteristic for intoxications with T-2 toxin. The results suggest that fatal hemorrhage during pregnancy can occur in hemochorial and hemoendotheliochorial placental mammals as a result of T-2 toxin administration.