| Abstract
| - The potential for the Fusarium mycotoxins 4-deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) to enterthe human food chain through contaminated eggs was assessed using a controlled feed study. Fourgroups of laying hens (eight in each group) were fed a diet that included differing amounts of naturallycontaminated wheat containing DON (≈20 mg kg-1) and ZON (0.5 mg kg-1). Eggs were collectedand pooled from each group on a daily basis. Pooled samples were analyzed by liquid chromatographywith mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS). The method allowed DON, other type B trichothecenes,ZON, and its metabolites to be determined in a single multi-residue analysis. The selectivity of theMS/MS procedure allowed cleanup to be minimized (for DON, cleanup by immunoaffinity columnwas used) or eliminated (for ZON). The limits of detection of 0.01 μg kg-1 for DON and 0.1 μg kg-1for ZON in eggs were lower than previously published methods. None of the samples analyzed haddetectable levels of ZON or its metabolites. Although maximum levels of DON contamination (10 mgkg-1 feed) were relatively high, no adverse effects were observed on egg production. On the basisof the determined DON levels in the hen's diet and the determined levels of DON in the correspondingeggs, transmission rates of 15 000:1, 18 000:1, and 29 000:1 for treatment levels 5, 7.5, and 10 mgDON kg-1 feed, respectively, were found. These results show that, although eggs could be a humanexposure route for DON, the levels are insignificant compared to the other sources, although thepresence of metabolites of DON was not studied. Keywords: Deoxynivalenol; Zearalenone; Fusarium mycotoxins; LC-MS/MS method; eggs; laying hens;transmission rate
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