The effect of varying dietary levels of zinc was evaluated in mice fed T-2 toxin. A semipurified diet was used to produce a low zinc (less than 2 parts per million (ppm], a zinc replete (100 ppm), and a high zinc (2500 ppm) diet. T-2 toxin was added to the three zinc diets at a concentration of 10 ppm. The mice were fed one of the six diets ad libitum for up to 28 days. Mice from each diet were submitted for necropsy after 14 and 28 days and after 14 days zinc absorption and retention was measured in mice from each of the low and replete zinc diets, with and without T-2 toxin. Animals receiving a low zinc diet with T-2 toxin had reduced weight gains. The high zinc diet did not depress growth and did not influence T-2 depression of growth. The diets produced significant hematological changes without evidence of a T-2 toxin - zinc interaction. While zinc absorption was greater in mice fed the low zinc diet than those fed the replete zinc diet, T-2 toxin decreased absorption of zinc in the low zinc group and increased absorption in the replete zinc group. T-2 toxin did not influence the biological half-life of retained zinc in either the low or replete zinc groups. The biological half-life of zinc was significantly increased in the mice fed the low zinc diet relative to the replete zinc diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)