Studies of the influence of ochratoxin A on immune and defense reactions in the mouse model.

In the mouse model, the mycotoxin ochratoxin A has a non-selective suppressive effect on various immune and defence reactions. Apart from weight depression, lymphopenia, neutrophilia and eosinophilia, antibody-producing cells, antibody titres in blood serum and phagocytosis of Escherichia coli by blood phagocytes become suppressed. Moreover, immunized animals show a lower survival rate after experimental infection with Pasteurella multocida as well as an increase in oxygen radicals in blood cells.