Zearalenone contamination in swine feed and the effects on reproductive health

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by fungi in the genus Fusarium. Fusarium species commonly occur in cereal crops such as corn, wheat, barley, and rice which are used in swine feed. In addition to cereals, co-products of ethanol distillation, brewing, and baking are frequently re-purposed as swine feed. ZEN contamination has been related to severe reproductive issues including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), which describes the displacement of pelvic floor organs from their healthy anatomical positions. A recent rise in the rate of POP in sows highlights a need for more information surrounding the occurrence of ZEN in swine feed and the possible role of ZEN in POP. This research aims to understand the relationship between ZEN contamination in swine feed and swine reproductive health. The primary objectives of this work are to (1) characterize the stress relaxation behavior of vaginal tissue in the swine model, (2) determine how ZEN consumption effects the elasticity of pelvic support tissue. (3) determine where ZEN and a related metabolite accumulate in the swine reproductive tract, (4) evaluate the prevalence of ZEN and related Fusarium mycotoxins in swine feed and ingredients, and (5) track ZEN and related Fusarium mycotoxins throughout production of beer and brewers' spent grains (BSG). Results from this work can help stakeholders to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in swine feed, evaluate swine for ZEN toxicosis, and provide care for animals experiencing POP.