Incidence of zearalenol (Fusarium mycotoxin) in animal feed.

Zearalenol, the reduction product of zearalenone produced by Fusarium roseum growing in cereals, was found for the first time naturally occurring in oats and corn. This metabolite is three to four times more active estrogenically than zearalenone.

Zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin associated with stalk rot in corn.

The mycotoxins zearalenone (2.8 micrograms/g), deoxynivalenol (1.5 microgram/g), and T-2 toxin (110 ng/g) have been found in the pith of corn stalks standing in the field. Such contaminated stalks may contribute to mycotoxicoses of farm animals.

Natural occurrence of Fusarium toxins in feedstuff.

The mycotoxins diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone, produced by Fusarium roseum, were found naturally occuring in mixed feed samples. In all cases analyzed, deoxynivalenol occurred together with zearalenone. The natural occurrence of zearalenone in sesame seed is reported for the first time. Strains of F. roseum isolated in various parts of the world form feed implicated in animal mycotoxicosis produced monoacetoxyscirpenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone.

Uterotropic activity of cis and trans isomers of zearalenone and zearalenol.

The cis and trans isomers of zearalenone [2,4-dihyroxy-6-(10-hydroxy-6-oxo-1-undecenyl)-benzoic acid mu-lactone] and zearalenol [2,4-dihydroxy-6-(6,10-dihydroxy-1-undecenyl)-benzoic acid mu-lactone] were tested for uterotropic activity in the white rat. The metabolites were administered through the oral route (per os) and by topical application to the freshly shaven skin on the back. cis-Zearalenone was significantly more active than trans when fed orally to the rats in the diet or when applied topically by skin application. However, the cis isomer of zearalenol was not significantly different than its trans isomer. trans-Zearalenone was less active than trans-zearalenol.