Natural Occurrence of Moniliformin and Fusarin C in Corn Screenings Known to Be Hepatocarcinogenic in Rats

A sample of corn screenings associated with a field outbreak of leukoencephalomalacia in horses in Pennsylvania and shown to be hepatocarcinogenic in rats was analyzed chemically for the presence of the Fusarium metabolites moniliformin, fusarin C, T-2 toxin, and diacetoxyscirpenol. The corn screenings were found to be naturally contaminated with moniliformin and fusarin C at levels of 2.82 and 0.39 mg/kg, respectively, while no T-2 toxin or diacetoxyscirpenol could be detected. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of both moniliformin and fusarin C in corn in the U.S. It is however unlikely that moniliformin is involved in either equine leukoencephalomalacia or hepatocarcinogenesis while it is unknown whether fusarin C plays any role in the etiology of these two syndromes. © 1986, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.