Fructo-Oligosaccharide (DFA III) Feed Supplementation for Mitigation of Mycotoxin Exposure in Cattle-Clinical Evaluation by a Urinary Zearalenone Monitoring System.

The potential effect of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) supplementation in cattle feed was evaluated using a previously developed urinary-zearalenone (ZEN) monitoring system. Japanese Black cattle from two beef herds aged 9⁻10 months were used. DFA III was supplemented for two weeks. ZEN concentrations in feed were similar in both herds (0.27 and 0.22 mg/kg in roughage and concentrates, respectively), and below the maximum allowance in Japan. ZEN, α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), and ß-ZOL concentrations in urine were measured using LC/MS/MS the day before DFA III administration, 9 and 14 days thereafter, and 9 days after supplementation ceased. Significant differences in ZEN, α-ZOL, ß-ZOL, and total ZEN were recorded on different sampling dates. The concentration of inorganic phosphate in DFA III-supplemented animals was significantly higher than in controls on day 23 (8.4 vs. 7.7 mg/dL), suggesting a possible role of DFA III in tight junction of intestinal epithelial cells. This is the first evidence that DFA III reduces mycotoxin levels reaching the systemic circulation and excreted in urine. This preventive effect may involve an improved tight-junction-dependent intestinal barrier function. Additionally, our practical approach confirmed that monitoring of urinary mycotoxin is useful for evaluating the effects of dietary supplements to prevent mycotoxin adsorption.

Simulated distribution and ecotoxicity-based assessment of chemically-dispersed oil in Tokyo Bay.

To assess risks of chemically-dispersed oil to marine organisms, oil concentrations in the water were simulated using a hypothetical spill accident in Tokyo Bay. Simulated oil concentrations were then compared with the short-term no-observed effect concentration (NOEC), 0.01 mg/L, obtained through toxicity tests using marine diatoms, amphipod and fish. Area of oil concentrations higher than the NOEC were compared with respect to use and non-use of dispersant. Results of the simulation show relatively faster dispersion near the mouth of the bay compared to its inner sections which is basically related to its stronger water currents. Interestingly, in the inner bay, a large area of chemically-dispersed oil has concentrations higher than the NOEC. It seems emulsifying oil by dispersant increases oil concentrations, which could lead to higher toxicity to aquatic organisms. When stronger winds occur, however, the difference in toxic areas between use and non-use of dispersant is quite small.

Bioremediation of heavily oil-polluted seawater by a bacterial consortium immobilized in cocopeat and rice hull powder.

We examined the effectiveness of cocopeat and rice hull powder obtained from agricultural wastes as biocarriers for an oil-degrading bacterial consortium. Scanning electron microscopy revealed colonization and strong attachment of bacterial cells on the surface of both carriers. Results of a 60-day in vitro seawater bioremediation trial showed significant oil reduction and high cultivable bacterial counts in treatments augmented with the carrier-attached bacterial consortia compared to treatments supplemented with the same consortium in free living and encapsulated forms. Significant degradations in both aliphatic and aromatic fractions were obtained in treatments augmented with carrier-immobilized consortia. The developed immobilized cells showed sustained activities and viabilities during storage for six months. Results of this study demonstrated that inexpensive waste materials can be utilized as biocarriers of an oil-degrading consortium and that immobilization on biocarriers can enhance the bioremediation of oil-contaminated seawater.

¹H NMR-based metabolomics approach to assess toxicity of bunker a heavy oil to freshwater carp, Cyprinus carpio.

Using a ¹H NMR metabolomics approach, the effects of dietary exposure of bunker A heavy oil (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 5% in diet) on freshwater carp, Cyprinus carpio, were examined. Statistical analysis by PCA score plots showed that the amount of metabolites in exposure groups 0.1, 1, and 5% differed from those in the control group. Although no discernible effects on metabolites were noted in the 0.1% exposure group as well as in the lowest concentration (0.01%) group, several metabolites such as amino acid (e.g., leucine, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, histidine, proline, and methionine), 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, and glycerol were elevated, while another metabolite such as formate was reduced in 1 and 5% groups. These changes in the metabolites associated with the tri-carboxylic-acid (TCA) cycle suggest that oil exposure resulted in the disturbance of the TCA cycle in the liver of the carp. Isobutyrate, a marker of anoxia, was also increased in 1 and 5% exposures groups and was directly related to low hemoglobin concentrations leading to reduced oxygen transport by blood. In addition, significant elevation of creatinine in the plasma of carps exposed to 5% heavy oil suggests disturbance in kidney function. Thus, metabolomics approach can detect toxic effects of hazardous pollutants on fish.

Histopathological effects and EROD induction in common carp exposed to dietary heavy oil.

Common carp, Cyprinus carpio, was exposed to 1% and 5% dietary heavy oil for 2 weeks. Higher polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulation induced higher hepatic EROD activity in exposure groups compared with the control group. Significant histological alternations were observed in the liver such as nuclear and cellular hypertrophy, accumulation of eosinophilic granules in cytoplasm, nuclear degeneration and fibrillar inclusion in cytoplasm. Severe damage of the kidney was indicated by nuclear and cellular degeneration, and ultimately necrosis in the tubular epithelium cells. In addition, dilated glomerulus with hemorrhage was found in the renal capsule. The mean assessment value (MAV) and degree of tissue changes (DTC), as semi-quantitative analyses, were significantly increased with concentration and duration of exposure. Likewise, frequencies of pathological lesions in both liver and kidney were also increased with concentration and duration of exposure.

Monitoring of PAHs and alkylated PAHs in aquatic organisms after 1 month from the Solar I oil spill off the coast of Guimaras Island, Philippines.

Following the oil spill accident of the Solar I tanker in 2006 off the coast of Guimaras Island in the Philippines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs in some aquatic organisms were investigated at Luzaran in Guimaras and Taklong Islands, which were heavily polluted with spilled oil, immediately and 1 month after the accident. The concentrations of total PAHs were 11.9-52.3 ng/g dry weight in fish. Meanwhile, total PAH concentrations in shellfish were 38.0-3,102 ng/g dry weight in Luzaran and 128-236 ng/g dry weight in Taklong. Pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene were dominant in most fish and chrysene in all shellfish. Significantly higher concentrations of all alkylated homologs were detected in shellfish than in fish. These differences had two possible causes, that is, the differences between fish and shellfish could be attributed to the uptake routes and/or their metabolizing abilities.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination and recovery characteristics in some organisms after the Nakhodka oil spill.

Following the oil spill from the Russian tanker Nakhodka in 1997 in the Sea of Japan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were monitored for three years in some molluscs from the Mikuni-cho shore in Japan. Total PAH concentrations in marine organisms except for spiny top shell, ranged from 5.3 to 32.7 ng/g wet weight, but no trends were evident. Total PAH concentration in spiny top shell (Turbo cornutus) was 44 ng/g w.w. in the first month after the oil spill. However, it rapidly decreased to less than 5.4 ng/g w.w. from the second month. Spiny top shell, which was exposed to dietary Nakhodka heavy fuel oil, concentrated benzo(a)pyrene to 17.1 ng/g w.w. after two weeks of exposure and then rapidly eliminated it during an elimination phase. These results suggest that spiny top shell accumulates PAHs because of their low ability to metabolize PAH, but it can excrete parent PAHs rapidly when removed from the source of contamination. Thus it is suitable as an indicator organism in monitoring oil contamination. It can also be inferred from these field and laboratory investigations that, in three years, organisms from the Mikuni-cho shore seem to have adequately recovered from the Nakhodka oil spill contamination.