Methods for the Detection of Trichothecenes

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Abstract
The trichothecenes are a group of fungal metabolites with a tetracyclic, sesquiterpenoid ring system and include a number of compounds which are highly toxic. These compounds are produced by various species of the imperfect fungi including members of the following genera: Calonectria, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Stachybotrys, Trichoderma, and Trichothecium. Both biological and chemical methods for detection of various trichothecenes are reviewed. Some of the bioassay techniques in use for the detection of the various trichothecenes include the rabbit dermal toxicity test, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of protein synthesis tests; these are highly sensitive but lack specificity. The sensitivity of these tests for the T-2 toxin are 0.005 μg for rabbit skin toxicity, 0.03 μg/ml for inhibition of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes, and <1 μg/ml for cytotoxicity to human karyoblast cells. In the present state of development of the chemical assay methods, thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography are specific for various trichothecenes but lack sensitivity. The lower detection limit of the trichothecenes on thin layer plates varies from 0.2 to 2–3 μg/spot while gas-liquid chromatography has a reported sensitivity of approximately 0.05 μg/injection.

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