Oestrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone and the pasture fungus Fusarium culorum - A reply

Authors: McNerney DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 7, pp 117, Jul 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Mycotoxicosis, Liver/hepatic disease, Disease/defect, Fungal/yeast, Pasture/crop, Locomotor, Nervous system/neurology, Poisoning - plant, Toxicology, Reproduction - hormones
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: I refer to R.T. Gallagher`s short communication on the “Oestrogcnic Mycotoxin Zearalenonc and the pasture fungus Fusurium culmorum” (N. Z. vet. J. 33: 37-8). While not wishing to dismiss the hypothesis that zearalenone could be produced by F. culmorurn-infected perennial ryegrass in nature, which may, in turn, subsequently affect the growth performance of grazing cattle, we do note however, that the author`s experimental results demonstrated that such infected rycgrass failed to yield any zearalcnone. The conclusion of the article, although speculative, was most interesting. But if such a hypothesis could be true, the mechanism of action is unlikely to be due to a natural immune response. Resorcylic acid lactones, like other small molecules, do not provoke an immune response and WC would suggest that the hypothesis would emerge from the purely academic into the sphere of practical relevance, only in situations where a genuine/reproducible deficiency in the efficacy of zeranol had been satisfactorily established. Even in those cases, the obvious factors, e.g. nutrition, intercurrent disease, and poor administration technique would need to be given priority consideration.

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