cotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. growing on
wheat, barley, maize, rice, and so on. Zearalenone and
its metabolites exhibit distinct estrogenic and anabolic
properties that affect the reproductive systems of several
animals (Kleinova et al., 2002; Fink-Gremmels and
Malekinejad, 2007; Minervini and Dell’Aquila, 2008).
Previous studies have suggested that ZEN, along with
other Fusarium toxins, may be present in animal feeds
(Avantaggiato et al., 2007; Binder et al., 2007). In farm
animals, the concentration of ZEN and its metabolites
in urine may be used as potential biomarkers of ZEN
exposure