Fumonisin Content Research Articles

Occurrence of fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 in breakfast and infant cereals from Morocco

A total of 68 cereal products (48 breakfast cereals and 20 infant cereals) were collected from supermarkets and pharmacies in the Rabat-Sale area of Morocco and the content of fumonisins (FB1, FB2 and FB3) was analysed. Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) by using an ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed that fumonisins were detected in 20 samples (18 breakfast cereals and 2 infant cereals) with a frequency of contamination of 29.4% of total samples. The most contaminated products were cornflakes (maize) and breakfast cereals (rice, maize and cacao) with 10 and 4 positive samples respectively. The highest value was found in a breakfast cereal with 228 μg kg-1 of total fumonisins.

Effect of physical damage to ears of corn before harvest and treatment with various additives on the concentration of mycotoxins, silage fermentation, and aerobic stability of corn silage

We studied the effects of damaging ears of corn in the field prior to harvest and the use of various additives on the production of selected mycotoxins, silage fermentation, and aerobic stability of whole plant corn. In experiment 1, ears of corn were undamaged or were slashed with a knife 7 d before harvesting, exposing damaged kernels to the environment. Corn plants were harvested (about 35% DM) and treated in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were undamaged or damaged plants, untreated or treated with Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 (400,000cfu/g of fresh forage) and Pediococcus pentosaceus (100,000cfu/g). Damaging ears prior to harvest increased the amount of fumonisin but decreased the amount of starch in harvested corn plants. After ensiling, corn silage made from plants damaged before harvest had lower starch but greater concentrations of deoxynivalenol and fumonisin than silage made from plants that were undamaged. Microbial inoculation resulted in fewer yeasts and lower concentrations of zearalenone in silage when compared to uninoculated silage. Inoculated silage also had more acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol than did uninoculated silage. In experiment 2, ears of corn were undamaged or were slashed with a knife 27 d or 9 d before harvesting for corn silage. Whole plants were harvested at about 36% DM in a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were time of damaging the ears (27 d, 9 d, or no damage) relative to harvest and no additive or 0.1% (fresh weight) potassium sorbate. Damaging plants 9 d prior to harvest did not affect the concentrations of deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and zearalenone in plants at harvest. However, concentrations of deoxynivalenol and fumonisin were increased in fresh forage that had ears damaged at 27 d when compared to corn plants that were undamaged. Corn plants damaged for 27 d prior to harvest also had a lower concentration of starch than corn damaged for 9 d but was higher in acid detergent fiber than other treatments. The addition of potassium sorbate at harvest had no effect on the concentrations of mycotoxins in the resulting silage, but concentrations of mycotoxins were still greatest in silage made from plants that were damaged the longest prior to harvest (27 d). Silages treated with potassium sorbate had fewer yeasts and molds than silages without the additive. Damaging ears of corn before harvest had no effects on the aerobic stability of silages in both experiments. In contrast, the addition of the inoculant and potassium sorbate improved aerobic stabilities of silages when compared to untreated silages. These studies showed that physical damage to ears of corn prior to harvest can result in the production of mycotoxins in the field. This finding suggests that producers should test corn silage for mycotoxins prior to feeding especially if the forage has been subjected to physical damage prior to ensiling.

The influence of local factors on the prediction of fumonisin contamination in maize

Contamination by mycotoxins is a major concern to the maize industry in north-east Italy where maize grain is often spoiled by Fusarium spp. In this work, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were determined and an artificial neural network (ANN) model suitable for predicting mycotoxin contamination of maize at harvest time was developed. The occurrence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone was very limited, while fumonisins concentration ranged from 163 and to 3663 µg kg(-1) in 2007, and from 333 to 11473 µg kg(-1) in 2008. Statistical data analysis of factors affecting fumonisins concentration revealed that irrigation, chemical treatment against the European corn borer and harvest date significantly affected the level of contamination (P < 0.05), although the relevance of the factors was different in 2007 and 2008. The neural network approach showed a significant correlation between ascertained values and predictions based on agronomic data. This is the first time that an artificial neural network has been used to predict fumonisin accumulation in maize: the prediction has been shown to have the potential for the development of a new approach for the rapid cataloging of grain lots.

Evaluation of the concentration level of fumonisins in various corn cultivarsOcena poziomu stężeń fumonizyn w różnych odmianach kukurydzy

Fumonisins are important naturally-occuring mycotoxins produced purely by Fusarium species. The occurrence, frequency and implication of mycotoxins entering the food and feed chain through cereal grain have gained global attention over the last decade. The aim of this work was to monitor fumonisins synthesis in sixteen cultivars maize grain samples in four replication. There were statistically significant differences in the degree of contamination of fumonisins in analysed cultivars of maize. We found that the selected corn cultivars were significantly different in terms of the content of fumonisins. Hybrids with F (flint) and D (dent) grain type had significantly higher content of fumonisins than those of mixed type D/F (dent/flint) and F/D (flint/dent). Together with an increase in FAO number, fumonisins concentration decreased.

Impact of applying different nitrogen fertilizers on the level of fumonisins in maize hybrids grainWpływ stosowania różnych nawozów azotowych na poziom stężenia fumonizyn w ziarnie różnych odmian mieszańcowych kukurydzy

Summary Fusarium is one of the major fungal genera associated with maize. Among mycotoxins synthesized by Fusarium spp. fumonisins are the main of toxicologically and economically important contaminants of maize-based foods and feeds throughout the world. The present study shows the influence of soil supplementation with different forms of nitrogen fertilizers on the level of fumonisins in grain of two different types of corn cultivars. A higher mean level of fumonisins was found in grain of ES Palazzo cultivar in comparison with ES Paroli SG cultivar. The greatest content of fumonisins in grain was observed when no nitrogen fertilization was used, and the lowest when ammonium nitrate and urea with 50% content of each fertilizer in total nitrogen dose were applied.

Occurrence of major mycotoxins in maize from Hebei Province, China

To investigate the frequency of occurrence and the concentrations of aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins (FBs) in naturally infected maize, 25 samples of maize collected from fields in Hebei Province, China, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The maize samples were found to be frequently contaminated with DON (68%), ZEN (60%) and FBs (32%) in the range from 28 to 2533 μg/kg, 60 to 1239 μg/kg and 150 to 4480 μg/kg, respectively. The average concentration found for DON, ZEN and FB1 + FB2 were 605, 238 and 418 μg/kg, respectively. The average concentration of DON (605 μg/kg) in our samples was below the maximum tolerable limit of 1000 μg/kg set as the Chinese standard for maize, while ZEN (238 μg/kg) was almost four times as high as the maximum tolerable limit of 60 μg/kg. The overall level of FB (FB1 + FB2) contamination was relatively low, with an average concentration of 418 μg/kg in 32% (8 of 25) of maize samples from Hebei. AFs were not detected in any of the tested samples. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of multimycotoxin in maize in China.

Strategies to reduce exposure of fumonisins from complementary foods in rural Tanzania.

Feeding infants with maize can expose them to fumonisin mycotoxins. We assessed fumonisin exposure from complementary foods in rural Tanzania and determined strategies to reduce the exposure. We conducted a cross-sectional study in four villages of Tarakea division, Northern Tanzania. We used a repeat 24-hour dietary recall to collect data of maize consumption as complementary food for 254 infants aged 6-8 months. Fumonisin concentrations in the maize were also estimated. Fumonisin exposure was assessed using @risk analysis software. With the software, several maximum fumonisin contamination and maize consumption patterns were combined in order to determine effective strategies for minimizing fumonisin exposure. Of the infants, 89% consumed maize at amounts up to 158g/person/day (mean; 43g/person/day±28). The maize was contaminated with fumonisins at levels up to 3201µgkg(-1) . Risk of fumonisin intake above the provisional maximum tolerable daily limit of 2µgkg(-1) body weight was 15% (95% confidence interval; 10-19). The risk was minimized when the maximum contamination was set at 150µgkg(-1) . The risk was also minimized when the maximum consumption was set at 20g/child/day while keeping the maximum contamination at the European Union (EU) maximum tolerated limit (MTL) of 1000µgkg(-1) . Considering the economical and technological limitations of adopting good agricultural practices in rural Tanzania, it is practically difficult to reduce contamination in maize to 150µgkg(-1) . We suggest adoption of the EU MTL of 1000µgkg(-1) for fumonisins in maize and reduction, by replacement with another cereal, of the maize component in complementary foods to a maximum intake of 20g/child/day.

EFFECTS AND CHANGES OF ZEARALENONE AND FUMONISIN CONTAMINATION IN CORN-BASED BIOETHANOL PROCESS

Bioethanol production is a growing industry nowadays. In this work dry-grind ethanol production was carried out from different corn samples (uncontaminated; zearalenone; fumonisin B1+B2 contaminated) and the changes of the ratio of the solid-liquid phase as well as toxin concentrations were examined in laboratory scale. The ethanol yields of mycotoxin-contaminated corn-mashes were 27% lower,due to 10% less produced glucose-concentrations from these raw materials,compared to uncontaminated ones. By the end of the whole process, the initial 20% solid content was reduced below 7% both in contaminated and uncontaminated corn-mashes. Differences were observed in the concentration changes of examined toxins. Zearalenone was localized in the solid phase, and its concentrations did not alter during the ethanol production process. Fumonisin concentration increased 3 times at the end of the process, and it dissolved in the liquid phase in significant amount.

Single-kernel analysis of fumonisins and other fungal metabolites in maize from South African subsistence farmers

Fumonisins are important Fusarium mycotoxins mainly found in maize and derived products. This study analysed maize from five subsistence farmers in the former Transkei region of South Africa. Farmers had sorted kernels into good and mouldy quality. A total of 400 kernels from 10 batches were analysed; of these 100 were visually characterised as uninfected and 300 as infected. Of the 400 kernels, 15% were contaminated with 1.84–1428 mg kg−1 fumonisins, and 4% (n = 15) had a fumonisin content above 100 mg kg−1. None of the visually uninfected maize had detectable amounts of fumonisins. The total fumonisin concentration was 0.28–1.1 mg kg−1 for good-quality batches and 0.03–6.2 mg kg−1 for mouldy-quality batches. The high fumonisin content in the batches was apparently caused by a small number (4%) of highly contaminated kernels, and removal of these reduced the average fumonisin content by 71%. Of the 400 kernels, 80 were screened for 186 microbial metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, detecting 17 other fungal metabolites, including fusaric acid, equisetin, fusaproliferin, beauvericin, cyclosporins, agroclavine, chanoclavine, rugulosin and emodin. Fusaric acid in samples without fumonisins indicated the possibility of using non-toxinogenic Fusaria as biocontrol agents to reduce fumonisin exposure, as done for Aspergillus flavus. This is the first report of mycotoxin profiling in single naturally infected maize kernels.

Fumonisin elimination and prospects for detoxification by enzymatic transformation

A technology to efficiently reduce the concentration of carcinogenic and toxic fumonisins in food and feed would be desirable. This class of mycotoxins is produced by the maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides and other fungi. Fumonisins are frequently found in maize from the warm growing regions of the world, sometimes in considerable concentrations. Their molecular similarity with sphingolipids enables their binding to mammalian ceramide synthase, and the resulting interference with sphingolipid metabolism. Recently, we reported on a cluster of genes of Sphingopyxis sp. MTA144 which enables this alphaproteobacterium to degrade fumonisins. These and the previously known fumonisin catabolism genes and enzymes from the black yeast Exophiala spinifera and from bacterium ATCC 55552 allow the consideration of prospects for enzymatic detoxification of fumonisins in food and feed. All the known fumonisin catabolism pathways start by hydrolytic release of the two tricarballylic acid side chains, followed by removal of the 2-amino group from the core chain by different enzymatic mechanisms. The potential for application of feed enzymes for fumonisin detoxification in the gastrointestinal tract of animals is discussed, and possible applications in processing of maize for feed or food are also considered. To be able to evaluate the requirement for, and potential of, a new, enzyme-based fumonisin detoxification technology, an overview of the state of the art of fumonisin elimination and the known chemical reactions of fumonisins in processing or decontamination is also given. There is a special focus on the toxicity of hydrolysed fumonisins, because they can be generated from fumonisins both by an established, traditional method of maize processing, nixtamalisation, and by enzymatic biotransformation. As a complement to other approaches, enzymatic degradation of fumonisins to ameliorate the health risk of contaminated maize for animals, and possibly also for humans, seems feasible.

Natural occurrence of fumonisins b1 and b2 in corn from three main production provinces in China.

A total of 255 corn samples collected in 2010 from three main corn production provinces of China (Liaoning, Shandong, and Henan) were analyzed for contamination with fumonisins (FB(1) and FB(2)). The incidence of contamination was significantly higher in samples from Liaoning than in samples from the other two provinces. Approximately 80.0% of the samples from Liaoning were contaminated with fumonisins, with a mean total fumonisin concentration of 3,990 ng/g. In contrast, the mean total fumonisin concentrations were 845 and 665 ng/g in samples from Shandong and Henan, respectively. The probable daily intake of fumonisins (0.3 μg/kg of body weight) is within the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 2.0 μg/kg of body weight set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives.

Genetic and phenotypic variation of Fusarium proliferatum isolates from different host species

Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg is a common pathogen infecting numerous crop plants and occurring in various climatic zones. It produces large amounts of fumonisins, a group of polyketide-derived mycotoxins. Fumonisin biosynthesis is determined by the presence and activity of the FUM cluster, several co-regulated genes with a common expression pattern. In the present work, we analyzed 38 F. proliferatum isolates from different host plant species, demonstrating host-specific polymorphisms in partial sequences of the key FUM1 gene (encoding polyketide synthase). We also studied growth rates across different temperatures and sample origin and tried to establish the relationships between DNA sequence polymorphism and toxigenic potential. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on FUM1 and tef-1α sequences for all isolates. The results indicated the greatest variations of both toxigenic potential and growth patterns found across the wide selection of isolates derived from maize. Fumonisin production for maize isolates ranged from 3.74 to 4,500 μg/g of fumonisin B1. The most efficient producer isolates obtained from other host plants were only able to synthesize 1,820–2,419 μg/g of this metabolite. A weak negative rank correlation between fumonisin content and isolate growth rates was observed. All garlic-derived isolates formed a distinct group on a FUM1-based dendrogram. A second clade consisted of tropical and sub-tropical strains (isolated from pineapple and date palm). Interestingly, isolates with the fastest growth patterns were also grouped together and included both isolates originating from rice. The sequence of the FUM1 gene was found to be useful in revealing the intraspecific polymorphism, which is, to some extent, specifically correlated with the host plant.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13353-011-0059-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of agrochemical treatments on the occurrence of Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin contamination of maize in Southern Italy

The efficacy of agrochemical treatments, based on three different fungicides combined with an insecticide, was tested in southern Italy for two years on three maize hybrids to control Fusarium ear rot of maize and the accumulation in the maize kernels of the carcinogenic mycotoxins fumonisins. Insect damage incidence and severity, disease incidence and severity, identification of Fusarium species and levels of fumonisin contamination in kernels were determined. Field trials showed in both years that natural colonization of maize kernels by the fumonisin producing species Fusarium proliferatum and F. verticillioides (up to 81.5 and 26.5%, respectively) and total fumonisin contamination (up to 68.2 μg g −1) were highly severe. For all hybrids and in both years, the treatment with the insecticide applied alone reduced the insect damage severity consistently and the content of fumonisins in the kernel only in half of the cases, whereas fungicide treatments applied in combination with the insecticide showed a further significant reduction of fumonisin contamination in the three hybrids and in both years.

Equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) due to fumonisins B1 and B2 in Argentina

In August 2007 an outbreak of neurological disease and sudden death in Arabian horses occurred in a farm located in Coronel Rosales County, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The animals were on a pasture of native grasses and supplemented ad libitum with corn kernels and wheat bran. Three horses were observed having acute neurologic signs including blindness, four leg ataxia, hyperexcitability, aimless walking and circling, followed by death in two of them. Four other horses were found dead overnight without a history of neurologic signs. The morbidity, mortality and lethality rates were 11.6%, 10% and 85.7%, respectively. Grossly, the brain showed focal areas of hemorrhage, brown-yellow discoloration and softening of the sub-cortical white matter. The microscopic brain lesions consisted of extensive areas of malacia within the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, brainstem and cerebellum, characterized by rarefaction of the white matter with cavitations filled with proteinaceous edema, multifocal hemorrhages and mild infiltration by neutrophils, and rare eosinophils. Swollen glial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, intracytoplasmic deeply eosinophilic globules and eccentric, hyperchromatic, occasionally pyknotic nucleus were present throughout the areas of rarefaction hemorrhage, edema and necrosis. The feed supplements contained 12,490µg/kg of fumonisin B1 and 5,251µg/ kg of fumonisin B2. This is the first reported outbreak of ELEM associated with consumption of feed supplements containing high concentrations of fumonisins in Argentina.

Levels of total fumonisins in maize samples from Italy during 2006–2008

We analysed a total of 2258 grain samples over a 3-year period (2006–2008) from 93 storage centers in the principal maize cultivation area of Italy to establish the levels of fumonisin contamination. Fumonisin concentrations were measured using ELISA (RIDASCREEN) fumonisin test kits. Mean levels of contamination were remarkably high in each year, with the highest value in 2006 (10.9 mg/kg) and the lowest in 2008 (4.8 mg/kg). Similarly, for each year, variations were quite large: from <LOQ to 77.0 mg/kg, < LOQ to 26.3, and 0.1 to 19.0 mg/kg, respectively, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The highest fumonisin concentration was found in samples harvested in Veneto (11.1 mg/kg) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (8.9 mg/kg), while the lowest were recorded in Emilia Romagna and Piemonte (4.6 mg/kg).

Electronic nose predicts high and low fumonisin contamination in maize cultures

The ability of an electronic nose, based on a 6 metal oxide semiconductor chemical sensors array, to diagnose fungal contamination, to detect high fumonisin content and to predict fumonisin concentration was evaluated in vitro. Maize cultures were inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, F. semitectum, F. solani and F. subglutinans. Sterilised maize cultures were used as reference. Fungal colonies and fumonisin content of the maize samples were used as covariates for statistical analyses and for electronic nose training. Univariate and multivariate exploratory data analysis showed that the electronic nose discriminated the inoculated maize culture samples according to their fumonisin content. Partial Least Square was also implemented to build a multivariate regression model based on EN signals for quantitative fumonisin prediction. The EN could correctly recognize high and low fumonisin content of maize cultures and provide a fair quantitative estimation. The validity of EN technology to perform a rapid screening of maize cultures in order to identify levels of fumonisin contamination below the acceptability threshold was established.

&lt;i&gt;Fusarium&lt;/i&gt; spp. and levels of fumonisins in maize produced by subsistence farmers in South Africa

Fusarium spp. produce fumonisins - mycotoxins that are of importance to maize production in South Africa. Fumonisins have been associated with human oesophageal cancer and cause various diseases in animals that are of concern to the animal feed industry. Maize samples, collected from subsistence farm fields in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, were analysed for Fusarium spp. and contamination with fumonisins. Fusarium verticillioides was the most common Fusarium species in maize followed by F. subglutinans and F. proliferatum. Levels of contamination with fumonisins ranged from 0 μg/g to 21.8 μg/g, depending on the region where samples were collected. Levels of fumonisins were highest in northern KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand) where 52% and 17% of samples collected in 2006 and 2007, respectively, exceeded 2 μg/g. Regression analyses showed a positive correlation between fumonisin-producing Fusarium spp. determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and concentration of fumonisins (r = 0.93). Many samples from Zululand, and some from Mokopane (Limpopo) and Lusikisiki (Eastern Cape), contained fumonisins at levels well above the maximum levels of 2 μg/g set by the Food and Drug administration (USA) and therefore also the limit of 1 μg/g set by the European Union for food intended for direct human consumption. Regulations governing contamination of grain with fumonisins are not yet implemented in South Africa. The high incidence of fumonisins in subsistence farming systems indicates the need for awareness programmes and further research.

&lt;i&gt;Fusarium&lt;/i&gt; spp. and levels of fumonisins in maize produced by subsistence farmers in South Africa

Fusarium spp. produce fumonisins - mycotoxins that are of importance to maize production in South Africa. Fumonisins have been associated with human oesophageal cancer and cause various diseases in animals that are of concern to the animal feed industry. Maize samples, collected from subsistence farm fields in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, were analysed for Fusarium spp. and contamination with fumonisins. Fusarium verticillioides was the most common Fusarium species in maize followed by F. subglutinans and F. proliferatum. Levels of contamination with fumonisins ranged from 0 μg/g to 21.8 μg/g, depending on the region where samples were collected. Levels of fumonisins were highest in northern KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand) where 52% and 17% of samples collected in 2006 and 2007, respectively, exceeded 2 μg/g. Regression analyses showed a positive correlation between fumonisin-producing Fusarium spp. determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and concentration of fumonisins (r = 0.93). Many samples from Zululand, and some from Mokopane (Limpopo) and Lusikisiki (Eastern Cape), contained fumonisins at levels well above the maximum levels of 2 μg/g set by the Food and Drug administration (USA) and therefore also the limit of 1 μg/g set by the European Union for food intended for direct human consumption. Regulations governing contamination of grain with fumonisins are not yet implemented in South Africa. The high incidence of fumonisins in subsistence farming systems indicates the need for awareness programmes and further research.

Components of aggressiveness in Gibberella fujikuroi populations from South Romania

For breeding purposes, use of reliable Fusarium isolates and inoculation techniques for assessment of host resistance are key components for developing strategies to mitigate the risks caused by this pathogen in maize. Results of evaluating aggressiveness of Fusarium accessions obtained in 2008 from five locations from South Romania, under both seedling and field artificial inoculation in 2009, in terms of coleoptile length (% of control), visual score (1-9) and fumonisin content (FUM, ppm), are reported.High aggressive potential was found in all populations regardless of their geographic origin. Mean percentage values of coleoptile length across three maize hybrids inoculated with 30 Fusarium verticillioidesisolates collected in 2008 (six/per location) and two types of culture media, ranged in seedling stage from 15.8 (Braila) to 19.7 (Valul lui Traian). A large variability in accumulation of FUM in grains corresponding to 26 maize genotype x Fusarium isolate combinations averaged over two culture media, was found in 2009 inoculated experiment. A significant close negative correlation between visual score andFUM content was found when 61 maize genotypes have been inoculated with FUN 640-1-2/2006 isolate in 2008.

Effect of insertion of Bt gene in corn and different fumonisin content on growth performance of weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of Bt corn and isogenic corn on the growth of weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty-eight weaned piglets weighing 8.8±1.27 kg live weight were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 32 animals each (16 castrated males and 16 females). Bt corn (line MON810) and isogenic corn were produced at two farms located in the provinces of Lodi and Venice (northern Italy). The Bt corn had the same chemical composition as the isogenic corn but a lower content of fumonisin B1 (FB1). The experimental period (35 days) was in 2 phases, 0–14 d and 15–35 d. There was no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) among groups during the first feeding phase. Compared to animals fed isogenic corn, the piglets fed Bt maize gained more weight during the second feeding phase (Bt: 464.1 g/d, isogenic: 429.1 g/d; P<0.05). Also, the ADG over the entire trial was higher in piglets fed Bt corn versus piglets fed isogenic corn (Bt: 396.4 g/d, isogenic: 374.1 g/d; P<0.05). The ADG of the whole period decreased linearly (P<0.05) with respect to the FB1 content of the diet. Final weight was higher in piglets fed the diet containing Bt corn (Bt: 22.68 kg, isogenic: 21.83 kg; P<0.05). No differences in feed intake and in the feed:gain ratio were observed, although a linear response between FB1 and feed:gain ratio in first 14 days of the experiment was detected.