Trichothecenes signs/symptoms

In contrast, the symptoms and clinical signs of trichothecene intoxication can vary depending on whether the exposure is acute or chronic. Acute exposure to trichothecene mycotoxins used as biological warfare agents is the major concern for military medicine, but for continuity and historical implications, chronic intoxication will also be addressed in this chapter. 

In the absence of a biological detector or a particular characteristic of the aerosol (such as color or odor), diagnosis of an attack with trichothecene would depend on clinical observations of casualties and identification of the toxins in biological or environmental samples. This would involve a combined effort between the medical and chemical units in the field. The early signs and symptoms of an aerosol exposure to trichothecene mycotoxins would depend on particle size and toxin concentration. For a large-particle aerosol (particles > 10 pm, found in mist, fog, and dust similar to that used in Southeast Asia), the signs and symptoms would include rhinorrhea, sore throat, blurred vi-... 

Later signs and symptoms (8-24 h) would probably be similar (except for the degree of skin rash and blisters) for both large-particle and deep-respiratory aerosol exposure to trichothecene mycotoxins. They could include continued nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, burning erythema, skin rash and blisters, confusion, ataxia, chills, fever, hypotension, and bleeding. 

The so-called stachybotryotoxicosis occurs mainly in Ukraine, Hungary, and other East European countries. The symptoms in horses, pigs, cattle, and poultry are skin necrosis, inner hemorrhages, states of shock, irritations of stomach mucous membranes, reduced leukocyte count, nervousness. In severe cases the animals die within 1 - 3 d. Farm-workers who handle infected hay and straw may also show signs of poisoning such as skin and mucous irritations, cough, nosebleeds, fever, etc. Like all trichothecenes the S. inhibit eukaryotic protein biosynthesis. 

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