in animals: Acute toxicity: Male B6C3F1 mice were orally administered deoxynivalenol (DON) (25 mg/kg [84 µmol/kg]) to assess the kinetics of DON distribution and clearance. DON was detectable in the plasma, liver, spleen, and brain from 5 minutes up to 24 hours post administration chronic toxicity: Female B6C7F1 mice (7 weeks old) were fed experimental diets for 16 weeks that contained DON (20 mg/kg [67 µmol/kg]). DON reduced the mean daily food consumption (2.94 ± 0.66 g vs. 3.6 ± 0.48 g), the mean body weight gain (2.76 ± 0.84 g vs.12.94 ± 1.68 g), and total body weight, and increased serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in treated vs. control mice starting 8 weeks after diet initiation.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main causative agent of several syndromes in weaning piglets collectively known as porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD). The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of deoxynivalenol (DON) on PCV2 replication in NPTr permissive cell line. Noninfected and infected cells with PCV2 were treated with increasing concentrations of DON (0, 70, 140, 280, 560, 1200 ng/mL) and cell survival and virus titer were evaluated 72 h postinfection. In vitro results showed that low concentrations of DON could potentially increase PCV2 replication depending on virus genotype.