Effect of intraperitoneal infusion of deoxynivalenol on feed consumption and weight gain in the pig.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is well documented to cause reduced feed consumption (FC) and weight gain (WG) rates in sensitive animal species. In the present study, the effect of DON on pigs when ingested as a DON-spiked diet was compared with toxin administered by a continuous-delivery osmotic pump that was implanted intraperitoneally (i.p.). The trial was conducted for a 7-day period. At 4 ppm dietary DON, overall FC and WG were reduced -14% and -8%, respectively, compared with control animals; at 9 ppm DON, values were -46% and -65% less, respectively. With i.p. infusion of te toxin, although FC was also reduced [-16% at 2 micrograms DON/hr (low dose) or -31% at 5 micrograms DON/hr (high dose)], WG rates were affected to a relatively less extent (-5% or -9%, respectively) than that noted with dietary DON. In pigs on dietary DON, both FC and WG were most affected during the initial 3-day period and showed significant recovery thereafter; however, in animals dosed by the i.p. pump, FC improved only moderately, and WG stayed relatively constant over the 7 days. The effect of dietary DON on WG appears to be influenced by more than just reduced feed intake, particularly at higher toxin concentrations.