Fusarium mycotoxins beauvericin, enniatins (A, A1, B, B1) and moniliformin were analysed in 38 Finnish grain samples (14 wheat, 22 barley, one rye, one oats) harvested in 2001-02. The contaminating Fusarium species were identified with the primer-specific polymerase chain reaction as well as with morphological studies. All the studied mycotoxins were found in the samples. Enniatins B and B1 were detected in all samples, and enniatin A, enniatin A1, beauvericin and moniliformin in 74, 95, 95 and 74% of the samples, respectively. There were higher concentrations of the mycotoxins analysed in 2001 compared with 2002. The highest levels of mycotoxins were detected in samples harvested late in the autumn after a long rainy period. Fusarium avenaceum was the most abundant Fusarium species in Finland during both years (0-29.5%) measured as infected kernels. A significant correlation was found between F. avenaceum contamination level and the concentration levels of enniatins B and B1, as well as moniliformin.

We evaluated Fusarium contamination and the levels of hexadepsipeptide mycotoxins in 13 wheat samples affected by head blight in Finland. Fusarium avenaceum was the dominant species (91%) isolated from all samples, but isolates of F. culmorum (4%), F. tricinctum (3%), and F. poae (2%) also were recovered. Beauvericin (0.64 to 3.5 g/g) was detected in all 13 samples. Enniatin B (trace to 4.8 g/g) was detected in 12 samples, enniatin B 1 (trace to 1.9 g/g) was detected in 8 samples, and enniatin A 1 (trace to 6.9 g/g) was detected in 10 samples. Ten of 13 strains of F. avenaceum and 2 strains of F. poae and F. tricinctum produced beauvericin in culture on rice (trace to 70, 9.4, and 33 g/g, respectively). All strains also produced enniatins (trace to 2,700 g/g). This is the first report on the natural cooccurence of beauvericin and enniatins in wheat infected predominantly by F. avenaceum.

Summary An experiment was conducted on rats to investigate the capacity of antioxidants to protect against acute toxicity caused by DON or T‐2 toxin. Male rats were fed two different feeds. One group received a feed deficient in vitamins C and E and selenium, whereas the other group was fed with a feed enriched in antioxidants. After two weeks, selected groups of rats were administered orally a single dose of DON or T‐2 toxin. After the treatment with mycotoxins, all rats were decapitated. The livers were analyzed for TBARS values, hepatic GSH content and for the activities of CyP‐450, CAT, SOD and GSH‐TR. Increases in lipid peroxides of 21% and 268% were observed in those rats which did not receive the supplement of antioxidants and which were administered DON or T‐2 toxin, respectively. There was no significant increase in the TBARS values in the groups receiving DON with selenium and vitamins, but increases of 57% and 79% were recorded in the groups administered T‐2 toxin and antioxidants. Furthermore, in the groups fed the deficient feed and administered DON or T‐2 toxin, the lipid peroxidation increased by 33 % and 307 %, respectively. No mortality, and a lower number of intoxicated animals were observed in rats fed a diet supplemented with antioxidants. Significant decreases of GSH, CAT, SOD, CyP‐450 and GSH‐TR were recorded in treated rats receiving the deficient feed. The results of this study demonstrate that trichothecenes stimulate lipid peroxidation with consequent decrease of GSH content, but that the dietary use of selenium, α‐tocopherol and ascorbic acid provides protection against acute toxicosis caused by DON or T‐2 toxin.