To evaluate the transfer of deoxynivalenol
(DON) and its de-epoxy metabolite (de-epoxy-DON) in
the plasma of chicken, mashed oats naturally contaminated
with 9.5 mg DON/kg were fed to four broilers (35 days
age) at a dose of 20 g/bird. Blood samples were then
collected from two birds at 1 h, 3 h, and 5 h post-feeding,
while from the other two birds at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h postfeeding.
Analysis of DON and de-epoxy-DON was carried
out by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
after clean-up with immunoaffinity columns. At
1 h, 3 h, and 5 h post-feeding, the average values of plasma
DON were 0.35 ng/ml, 0.20 ng/ml, and 0.15 ng/ml,
respectively. The corresponding average values of deepoxy-
DON at these time points were 0.70 ng/ml,
0.80 ng/ml, and 0.25 ng/ml, respectively. The sum of
DON and de-epoxy-DON appearing in the plasma at 1 h
post-feeding in these birds was estimated to be 0.044% of
the total DON fed. At 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h post-feeding, the
average values of plasma DON were 0.85 ng/ml, 0.45 ng/ml,
and 0.30 ng/ml. De-epoxy-DON could not be detected in the
birds sampled at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h post-feeding. The total
amount of DON appearing in the plasma at 2 h post-feeding
in these birds was estimated to be 0.036% of the DON fed.
These data show that the absorption rate of DON is very low
in broilers and that there is also a rapid transformation, and
clearance from plasma. Furthermore, there appeared to be
individual variability in the capacity of birds to de-epoxidise
DON.