Fusarium equiseti NRRL 5537 grown on an autoclaved white corn grit medium for 3 to 4 weeks at room temperature produced a substance in excess of 5 g/kg of substrate that inhibited some gram-positive bacteria including mycobacteria. Most Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium phlei , and Staphylococcus aureus strains were inhibited when 1 μg of the antibiotic per ml was incorporated into the culture medium. Except for Neisseria perflava , gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds were not inhibited by 128 μg/ml. The antibiotic was recovered as a white powder, had a melting point of 65 to 66 C, and had an intraperitoneal mean lethal dose in white mice of 63 mg/kg of body weight. In thin-layer chromatographic analysis the compound appeared as a single spot in two different solvent systems. Mass spectrometry determined that the molecular weight of the antibiotic was 373 with a molecular formula of C 22 H 31 NO 4 . Chemical microanalysis was in accord with the formula.

Two hundred twenty-eight male chicks (Columbia x New Hampshire) were given feed amended with autoclaved culture material (CM) of Fusarium proliferatum Containing fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2) and moniliformin in 3 separate feeding trials. Purified FB1 and moniliformin were given separately and in combination in a fourth feeding trial. Birds were given amended rations at day 1 (Trial 1 and 4), day 7 (Trial 2), and day 21 (Trial 3) and their respective ration was given for 28 days (Trial 1), 21 days (Trial 2), 7 days (Trial 3), and 14 days (Trial 4). FB1 concentrations were 546, 193, and 61 ppm; FB2 were 98, 38 and 14 ppm; and moniliformin were 367, 193, and 66 ppm in the first 3 feeding trial regimens. Chicks in Trial 4 were given dietary concentrations of purified FB1 at 274 and 125 ppm, and moniliformin at 154 and 27 ppm. FB1 and moniliformin, both alone and in combination, produced dose-responsive clinical signs, reduced weight gains and mortality in chicks. Age of birds given amended feeds had little difference in the clinical response; however, those given the rations from days 7 or 21 were slightly less susceptible than those given rations beginning at 1 day of age. Additive effects were noted when the toxins were given in combination. When toxins were given separately, adverse effects took longer to occur. A system to monitor pattern and rate of defecation (RD) was developed for assessing the chicks' approach to feed, water and heat source as illness progressed. Our results indicate that chicks fed corn heavily infected with F. proliferatum under field conditions could suffer acute death similar to that described for 'spiking mortality syndrome' during the first 3 weeks of age.

An experiment was conducted with 270 male broiler chicks to evaluate the effects of a Fusarium fujikuroi M-1214 culture material containing moniliformin (M) on broiler chicks. Day-old chicks were allotted randomly to dietary treatments containing 0, .24, .48, .72, .96, 1.44, 1.92, 2.40, and 2.88% M culture material (MCM). These levels of MCM supplied 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 mg M/kg of feed. Each dietary treatment was fed to six pen replicates of five chicks per pen for 21 d. Significant mortality (P < .05) occurred in chicks fed 200 (8 out of 30), 250 (17 out of 30), and 300 (25 out of 30) mg M/kg feed. Chicks fed > 100 mg M/kg had lower (P < .05) feed intakes and smaller BW gains (P < .05) than controls. Increased heart weights (P < .05) were observed in chicks fed > 50 mg M/kg, and increased liver weights (P < .05) in chicks fed > 100 mg M/kg. Gross lesions of M toxicity included generalized cardiomegaly with dilation of the right ventricle. Histopathology revealed a high incidence of large and variably shaped cardiomyocyte nuclei and a generalized loss of cardiomyocyte cross striations in chicks fed > 75 and 200 mg M/kg, respectively. Results indicated that F. fujikuroi culture material containing M is toxic to young broiler chicks.

Two lots of corn naturally contaminated with fumonisin B1 (15 and 36 ppm) and a control lot (no fumonisin B1 detected) were used as substrates for ethanol production in replicate 8.5-liter yeast fermentations. Ethanol yields were 8.8% for both the control and low-fumonisin corn, while the high-fumonisin corn contained less starch and produced 7.2% ethanol. Little degradation of fumonisin occurred during fermentation, and most was recovered in the distillers' grains, thin stillage, and distillers' solubles fractions. No toxin was detected in the distilled alcohol or centrifuge solids. Ethanol fermentation of fumonisin-contaminated corn coupled with effective detoxification of distillers' grains and aqueous stillage is suggested as a practical process strategy for salvaging contaminated corn.