Preparation of conjugated antigens based on zearalenone carboxymethyloxime and their use in immunoenzyme analysis

Zearalenone-6'-carboxymethyloxime was synthesized, and its conjugates with albumins and gelatin were prepared. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the conjugate with bovine serum albumin were shown to be highly specific to zearalenone and to have a lower cross-reactivity toward its structural analogues (alpha-zearalenol--28%, beta-zearalenol--6%, zearalanone--12%, and alpha-zearalanol--5%). The sensitivity of enzyme immunoassay using gelatin-based immobilized conjugates for determination of zearalenone in solutions was 1 ng/ml, and this allowed us to determine this substance in feed at a threshold concentration of 200 micrograms/kg.