Subchronic toxicity of vomitoxin in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Purified vomitoxin was incorporated into the diet at a level of 20 ppm and fed to male Sprague-Dawley rats ad lib. for 90 days. Few clinical signs of toxicity were observed. Rats in the vomitoxin treatment group were less efficient in converting feed into body mass, but there was no feed refusal. Terminal body weight was reduced in the vomitoxin treatment group. There were no statistically significant effects on serum enzyme levels, haematological parameters or tissue lesions, or on liver detoxification systems, as reflected in levels of microsomal cytochrome P-450 or in glutathione S-transferase activity.