Differentiation of lesions caused by mycotoxin T-2 from autolytic morphologic change in CD-1 mice.

Experiments with topically applied T-2 trichothecene mycotoxin were undertaken to determine whether lesions caused by this toxin could be differentiated from autolysis. Two pathologists, who had previously seen lesions caused by T-2 toxin, graded lesions without knowledge of treatment group and stated whether the animal had received the toxin or not. Both pathologists differentiated T-2 toxin-treated mice up to 6 h post-mortem. Failure to distinguish between treated and control mice resulted in false-negative diagnoses only. It was concluded that the diagnosis of trichothecene mycotoxicosis would probably be missed more than 6 h post-mortem.