Vomitoxin, also known as deoxynivalenol (DON), is a mycotoxin that occurs predominantly in grains such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, and
maize, and less often in rice, sorghum, and triticale.
The occurrence of deoxynivalenol is associated primarily with Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) and F. culmorum, both of which are
important plant pathogens which cause fusarium head blight in wheat and gibberella or fusarium ear blight in maize.
Livestock and farm animals: In animals and livestock, vomitoxin causes a refusal to feed and lack of weight gain when fed above advised
levels.
Zearalenone (ZEN), is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Fusarium and Gibberella species. Several Fusarium species
produce toxic substances of considerable concern to livestock and poultry producers.
Zearalenone is the primary toxin, causing infertility, abortion or other breeding problems, especially in swine.
Zearalenone is heat-stable and is found worldwide in a number of cereal crops, such as maize, barley, oats, wheat, rice, and sorghum.
To protect human health from exposure to these mycotoxins, the European Commission has recently established regulatory limits for
DON and ZEN in cereals and cereal-based foods and feeds
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