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Deoxynivalenol (DON) is universally detected trichothecene in most cereal commodities, which is considered as a major hazardous material for human and animal health. Intestine is the most vulnerable organ with higher concentration of DON than other organs, owing to the first defense barrier function to exogenous substances. However, the underling mechanisms about DON-induced intestinal toxicity remain poorly understood. Here, DON poisoning models of IPEC-J2 cells was established to explore adverse effect and the potential mechanism of DON-induced enterotoxicity. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Intestinal epithelial barrier injury was caused by DON with increasing LDH release, decreasing cell viability as well decreasing tight junction protein expressions (Occludin, N-Cad, ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Claudin-3). Moreover, DON caused mitochondrial dysfunction by opening mitochondrial permeability transition pore and eliminating mitochondrial membrane potential. DON exposure upregulated protein and mRNA expression of mitochondrial fission factors (Drp1, Fis1, MIEF1 and MFF) and mitophagy factors (PINK1, Parkin and LC3), downregulated mitochondrial fusion factors (Mfn1, Mfn2, except OPA1), resulting in mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and mitophagy. Overall, these findings suggested that DON induced tight junction dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells was related to mitochondrial dynamics-mediated mitophagy.

Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can infect humans and other animals, including cattle. Cattle are one of the world’s main sources of meat, and people who consume raw or undercooked meat and milk of cattle infected with T. gondii can become infected. In this study, a total of 5292 dairy cattle serum samples, collected from 17 cities (Henan Province, China) from January 2015 to September 2017, were screened for antibodies against T. gondii. Results Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 1.93% (102/5292) (95% CI, 1.56–2.30) of dairy cattle using a modified agglutination test (cut-off 1:100). The results showed that geographic location and season may be risk factors for T. gondii infection of cattle (P

Toxoplasma gondii has a complex life cycle and pathogenic mechanisms. Acute T. gondii infections in mice often result in death, whereas in chronic infections, the parasites may persist in the host tissues as intraneuronal or intramuscular cysts. However, the virulence of T. gondii strains in mice varies with its genetic background. The present study investigated the pathogenicity and pathological lesions of two T. gondii isolates from China: namely, TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17) and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9). The virulent (ToxoDB#216) and avirulent (VEG) strains were employed as controls. Toxoplasmosis was induced by inoculating BALB/c mice with oocysts of the strains of T. gondii VEG, ToxoDB#216, TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17), and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9), respectively. As a result, one oocyst of ToxoDB#216 could kill a mouse within 10 days post inoculation (DPI). The survival time of the mice for T. gondii TgCatCHn2 and TgCatCHn4 was >60 DPI for 106/mL oocysts, but this concentration (106/mL oocysts) of VEG strain could kill mice within 11 DPI. Compared with the strains of T. gondii ToxoDB#216 and VEG, the lesions in the small intestines of the strains of TgCatCHn2- and TgCatCHn4-infected mice were significantly smaller (P 0.05). However, the granules in the PCs showed negative lysozyme expression in the intestines of mice infected with T. gondii TgCatCHn2 and TgCatCHn4. Thus, T. gondii strains of TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17) and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9) were avirulent strains, they triggered an inhibition of lysozyme expression in the granules of PCs of the mouse intestine. These effects may in turn lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which may be related to further parasitic invasion of the intestines. The findings of the present study further expand the spectrum of the pathogenic features of various Chinese isolates of T. gondii.