Vomitoxin

After the dipped or sprayed chromatogram has been dried in a stream of cold air long-wave UV light (2 = 365 nm) reveals fluorescent yellow zones (flavonoids). Sterigmatocystine, which can be detected without derivatization on account of its red intrinsic fluorescence (detection limit 0.5 pg), also fluoresces pale yellow after being heated to 80°C [9] or 100°C [13] for 10 min on the other hand, citrinine, zearalenone and vomitoxin fluoresce blue. 

Of four basic trichothecene groups (A, B, C and D), types A and B represent the most important mycotoxins. Type A includes the T-2 toxin that can suppress the immune system and can cause damage to bone marrow. The T-2 toxin is about 14 times more toxic than the most widespread Fusarium-based type B mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), previously called vomitoxin. DON is a... 

DON (Vomitoxin) Handbook. Rev. ed. Washington, DC Government Printing Office, 2004. 

Bondy, G.S., and Pestka, J.J., Dietary exposure to the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxyni-valenol) stimulates terminal differentiation of Peyer s patch B cells to la secreting plasma cells, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 108, 520, 1991. 

Zhou, H. R., Yan D., and Pestka J.J. Differential cytokine mRNA expression in mice after oral exposure to the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) Dose response and time course. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 144, 294, 1997. 

Pestka, J. J., Yan D., and King L.E. Flow cytometric analysis of the effects of in vitro exposure to vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) on apoptosis in murine T, B and IgA+ cells. Food Chem. Toxicol. 32, 1125, 1994. 

Yan, D. et al. Role of macrophages in elevated IgA and IL-6 production by Peyer s patch cultures following acute oral vomitoxin exposure. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 148, 261, 1998. 

Yan, D. et al. Potential role for IL-5 and IL-6 in enhanced IgA secretion by Peyer s patch cells isolated from mice acutely exposed to vomitoxin. Toxicology 122, 145, 1997. 

Pestka, J. J. and Zhou H.R. Interleukin-6-deficient mice refractory to IgA dysregulation but not anorexia induction by vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) ingestion. Food Chem. Toxicol. 38, 565, 2000. 

Moon, Y. and Pestka J.J. Vomitoxin-induced cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in macrophages mediated by activation of ERK and p38 but not JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases. Toxicol. Sci. 69, 373, 2002. 

Chung, Y. J., Zhou H.R., and Pestka J.J. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional roles for p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in upregulation of TNF-alpha expression by deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 193,188, 2003. 

Li, S. et al. Modulation of transcription factor AP-1 activity in murine HL-4 thymoma cells by vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 163, 17, 2000. 

Ouyang, Y. L., Li S., and Pestka J.J. Effects of vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) on transcription factor NF-kappa B/Rel binding activity in murine EL-4 thymoma and primary CD4+ T cells. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 140, 328, 1996. 

Wong, S., Schwartz R.C., and Pestka J.J. Superinduction of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in macrophages by vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) modulated by mRNA stabilization. Toxicology 161, 139, 2001. 

Zhou, H. R. et al. Lipopolysaccharide and the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) synergistically induce apoptosis in murine lymphoid organs. Toxicol. Sci. 53, 253, 2000. 

Scott, P.M., Decline in deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) concentrations in 1983 Ontario winter wheat before harvest, Appl. Env. Microbiol., 48, 884, 1985. 

Contamination occurs primarily in wheat, barley, rye, and maize. Type A trichothecenes include mainly T-2 toxin, HT-2, and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) mycotoxins of the group B include mainly 4-deoxynivalenol (DON), commonly known as vomitoxin, and nivalenol (NIV). Toxic effects include nausea, vomiting, visual disorder, vertigo, throat irritation, and feed refusal in farm animals. The most toxic is T-2, followed by DAS and NIV, with DON being the least toxic in acute toxicity studies but the most widespread in grains worldwide and therefore the most studied. Issues related to chemical and physical data, occurrence, toxicity, absorption, distribution, and metabolism of trichothecenes are reviewed in WHO (89) and IARC (34). Physicochemical data for some selected Fusarium toxins is given by Sydenham et al. (90). The molecular structures of the main trichothecenes are shown in Fig. 9. 

WL Childress, IS Krull, CM Selavka. Determination of deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) in wheat by high-performance liquid chromatography with photolysis and elecrochemical detection (HPLC-hv-EC). J Chrom Science 28 76-82, 1990. 

Inhibitors/Toxins Trypsin inhibitors, aflatoxins, exotoxins (botulinum), endotoxins, PCBs, vomitoxin... 

Irish research (Lawlor and Lynch, 2001) has shown that cereals grown there may be contaminated with vomitoxin, zearalenone, fusaric acid or ochratoxin. The presence of aflatoxins in animal feeds in Ireland is considered likely to be due to the importation of feed ingredients from warmer climates. 

North America Ochratoxin, vomitoxin, zearalenone, aflatoxins... 

South America Aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin, vomitoxin, T-2 toxin... 

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