Serum Biochemistry, Lipid and Pathology Alterations in Sinclair Minipigs Fed Low Levels of Fumonisin B1 for Six Months. Introduction Fumonisins are a group of naturally occurring mycotoxins produced by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides

Fumonisins are a group of naturally occurring mycotoxins produced by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides (previously moniliforme). Fumonisin B1 (FB1), is the most common toxin produced. Fumonisins alter sphingolipid biosynthesis, induce hepatotoxicity, and elevate serum cholesterol concentration in all species studied including pigs, calves, lambs, mice, rats, mink, and broiler chicks. A major concern for humans ingesting fumonisin contaminated food is the cardiotoxicity and hypercholesterolemia observed in swine and nonhuman primates. In swine, the heart is the primary target organ of fumonisin toxicity, with lethal pulmonary edema (PPE) occurring secondary to heart failure (Smith et al., 1996a and b; Haschek et al., 2001; Constable et al., 2000; Smith et al., 2000). Hypercholesterolemia was reported as the earliest detectable change in serum of swine following ingestion of fumonisin B1 at concentrations as low as 1 ppm (Rotter et al., 1996). Fumonisin B1 does not change cholesterol secretion (Merrill et al., 1995) but may change lipid metabolism (Rotter et al., 1997). FB1 alters sphingolipid biosynthesis by inhibiting sphingosine N–acyltransferase and sphinganine N–acyltransferase and results in increases in the sphingoid bases, sphinganine and sphingosine, and depletion of complex sphingolipids (Wang et al., 1991, Yoo et al., 1996). It has been hypothesized that the mechanism of action of fumonisin is through these alterations in sphingolipid biosynthesis.