Mycotoxin research in the Hungarian Central Veterinary Institute

Mycotoxin research conducted in the Hungarian Central Veterinary Institute is reviewed briefly. The effect of zearalenone was studied by experiments in several animal species (cattle, pig, sheep, chicken, goose, duck, guinea fowl, fish) and in cell cultures in vitro. The chicken (Gallus domesticus) has proved to be resistant to the toxin. In the susceptible species zearalenone causes the most severe damage to the sexual organs. The metabolism of zearalenone, T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol was also studied. These toxins are resistant to physicochemical factors but are easily transformed in biologically active environment. The acute toxicity study of trichothecene toxins is described along with morphological changes, with particular respect to those of the lymphoid and myeloid organs. Trichothecene toxins impair the natural defence mechanism of the organism and result in the manifestation of different diseases (swine dysentery, caecal coccidiosis). Deoxynivalenol contamination of the feeds, first of all of wheat, is common in Hungary. Its effect on pig fattening was investigated in a field trial. The toxins of different storehouse moulds were also examined.