It can be produced both in the field and in storage. It is the most prevalent mycotoxin in both wheat and barley, corn or oats. It is a compound soluble in water and in some polar solvents (for example, in aqueous methanol, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate).
European legislation establishes a maximum permitted limit of 8 ppm of DON in cereals and cereal by-products (except corn), and it is considered non-carcinogenic to humans. Animal species sensitive to DON include pigs, laying hens, and dairy ruminants, and common symptoms of DON are feed refusal, immunosuppression, and diarrhea along with vomiting.
Fumonisins are a group of toxins produced by various species of pathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium (Fusarium verticilloides and Fusarium proliferatum).
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. Fumonisins cause equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema syndrome, both associated with the consumption of contaminated corn-based animal feed. Fumonisin B1 is considered possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B) by IARC.
It is produced mainly in the field, so that the cereals are contaminated. European legislation does not establish maximum limits in foods and animal feeds. The main symptoms presented by the ingestion of feed contaminated with nivalenol are certain refusal of food, immunotoxicity, hematotoxicity and gastrointestinal lesions.
T2 and HT-2 toxins are mainly produced by Fusarium species belonging to the trichothecene family. These mycotoxins are frequently found in cereals and cereal by-products. Recently, an increase in the occurrence of T2 mycotoxins and their metabolite HT2 is being observed in samples of raw materials and animal feeds.
The toxic effects of T2 and HT2 are the reduction of body weight gain and immunological, hematological and gastrointestinal alterations. In birds, T2 has been reported to cause oral mucosal damage (broiler chickens and turkeys) and reduced egg production.
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