Zearalenone contamination in barley, corn, silage and wheat bran

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a nonsteroidal estrogen mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum and other Fusarium species, which are plant pathogenic fungi that infect many plants and their products, including corn, barley, fruits and vegetables. This study presents the results of a survey for ZEN contamination on barley, corn, silage and wheat bran. A total of 54 samples were collected from Shahrekord in spring and summer 2010, including 20 barley, 8 corn, 12 silage and 14 wheat bran and analyzed using direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. From 54 samples analyzed, ZEN was found in 8 samples (14.8%), with a mean level of 142 ng/g. Corn had the highest incidence of ZEN (25.0%), followed by barley (20.0%) and silage (16.7%). No ZEN was detected in any wheat bran samples. The results of this study show that ZEN-exposed corn, barley, silage and wheat bran would not be a health concern in animals.