Toxic Effects of Patulin on Sheep

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of patulin on beef and dairy sheep. In the beef sheep trial, nine Corriedale lambs averaging 26± 3 kg-1 BW were used. The treatment group, n=5, received 3.3 mg patulin/kg-1 BW twice daily (BID) on days 0 through 2; 4.5 mg/kg-1 BW on days 3 through 5, and 5 mg/ kg-1 BW on day 6. Lambs received no patulin from day 7 through 13. The control lambs, n= 4, received an equal volume of water by stomach tube BID. The dry matter (DM) intake in dosed sheep was 22 % less than that of control animals after three days of treatment with 3.3 mg patulin/ kg-1 BW. This difference increased to 40 % as the dose of patulin increased to 5 mg/kg-1 BW. Differences in DM consumption remained significant through day 13 ( P< 0.01). After 6 days of increasing doses of patulin, the body weight of treated sheep was 89 % of that of the control animals. By the end of the trial, body weight in the patulin group was 86 % of that of the control group. The daily weight gain was lower in treated animals between days 0 to 7; and 0 to 13 (P < 0.05). In the dairy sheep trial, thirteen crossbred F1 or F2 Milkschaw x Corriedale ewes averaging 56 + 6 kg-1 BW were used. The treatment group, n= 7, received 3.3 mg patulin/kg-1 BW divided BID. The control group, n=6, received an equal volume of water by stomach tube BID. Neither changes in body weight nor effects on feed intake were observed in the patulin treated group. Effects on milk production, serum biochemistry, electrolytes, and hematology parameters were not detected. Contrary to what it was expected patulin treatment in almost equal doses shown to be effective for beef sheep failed to influence production and health in dairy sheep. Factors such as age, diet and composition of rumen microflora might have contributed to the difference in behavior.