[Not Available].

Due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and the influence of different factors the diagnosis of mycotoxicosis is difficult in many cases. Case descriptions in dairy herds with chronic and acute diseases suspected of having a mycotoxicosis show the necessity of a solid differential diagnosis. Screening methods (MTT-assay) for mycotoxin analysis are recommended in this case. Systematic investigations of fodder cereals before feeding allow a prophylactical assessment of mycotoxin risk. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern such investigations of the 1999 and 2000 harvest revealed only a low contamination with Zearalenon and Deoxynivalenol. Zearalenon was not detected in 133 samples. 31 of 157 samples contained DON in low levels.