Cleavage of Zearalenone‐Glycoside, a “Masked” Mycotoxin, during Digestion in Swine

Comparative analyses of cereal samples pretreated with or without beta-glucosidase indicate the presence of zearalenone-glycoside. To examine the stability of zearalenone-glycoside during digestion, mixed feed was artificially contaminated with synthesized zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside (395 micrograms/kg) and fed to a pig over a period of 14 days. The metabolites detected in feces and urine samples were zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol. These results demonstrate that zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside is decomposed during digestion and the aglucone, zearalenone, is released. Since zearalenone-glycoside is not detected during routine analysis, but hydrolysed during digestion, it seems likely that such "masked mycotoxins" are involved in cases of mycotoxicoses.