Individual and combined effect of Fusarium toxins in vivo

Feed containing fumonisin (5 ppm; F), zearalenone (Z) and deoxynivalenol (D) (0.25 ppm+1 ppm; ZD) individually and these three toxins in combination (5 ppm+0.25 ppm+1 ppm; FZD) was fed to adult Pannon White (n =15/group) male rabbits (4±0.5 kg) for 65 days to determine the Fusarium toxin eff ect on breeding rabbit bucks’ sperm quality and endocrine function. Th e toxin levels were the lowest limit values for farm animals of the Commission Recommendation (2006/576/EC). On trial days 0, 30 and 65 blood and semen were sampled, and from semen pH, concentration, motility and morphology of the spermatozoa were investigated. Th e ratio of spermatozoa showing progressive forward motility decreased (P<0.05) from 80% to 67% in the FZD group. Diff erences were found between the data of the ZD (66.3%±23.7) and control animals (80.2%±11.2) concerning the normal morphology of spermatozoa. Aft er gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue treatment, the testosterone concentration was lowered in the FZD animals aft er 65 days. Th ere was no diff erence among groups in feed consumption and BW. Histophatology revealed lowered spermiogenesis activity occurred in lower percentage in the ZD group (30.77%), while in FZD it was much more progressed (64.28%), referring to a synergistic eff ect of the three toxins.