Occurrence of roquefortine in silage - toxicological relevance to sheep

Roquefortine, a secundary metabolite of Penicillium roqueforti, is frequent ly detectable in silage: 24 our of 111 samples analysed contained concentra tions ranging from 48 to 28150 mu g/kg silage. To evaluate the toxicologica l relevance of this result eighteen female sheep received amounts of roquef ortine equivalent to concentrations of zero, 5 and 25 mg/kg silage over a p eriod of 16 to 18 days. During the experimental period no clinical signs of an intoxication could be recognized. Neither clinoco-chemical (ALT, AST, G LDH, bilirubin, blood glucose) nor hematological parameters (numbers of ery throcytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes; hemoglobin, packed cell volume) wer e changed by roquefortine. The profiles of LH, FSH and progesterone during the experimental period were similar to those of the control period. Only t he pH of the rumen fluid decreased significantly (up to 0.5 units). Residue s of roquefortine could be analysed in rumen fluid, faeces, liver, bile, ki dneys, muscle, fat, lung and heart. The post-mortem pathology including his topathology revealed no lesions which could be attributed to the administer ed roquefortine. As in addition no genotoxic properties could be detected i n other test systems the toxicity of roquefortine is estimated to be very l ow.