Quantitative determination and structure elucidation of type A- and B-trichothecenes by HPLC/ion trap multiple mass spectrometry

A method is presented for the quantification and structure confirmation of trichothecenes in wheat by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with multiple mass spectrometry (MSn). Nine type A- and B-trichothecenes were determined (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon-X, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynitralenol, neosolaniol, diacetoxyscirpenol, HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin). Extraction was carried out with acetonitrile/water. The extract was purified on a MycoSep column. Quantification was based on an internal standard and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the positive ion mode. Recoveries from spiked wheat were in the range of 80-106% at levels of 500 ppb. The limits of quantification for the whole method were between 10 and 100 ppb. Ion adduct formation with ammonium and acetate ions and MSn experiments provided information about substitution and fragmentation behavior of the mycotoxins. A scheme has been established for the partial structure elucidation of type A- and B-trichothecenes in fungal cultures.