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<b> </b>The <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminates animal feed worldwide. In vivo<i>,</i> DON modifies the cellular protein synthesis, thereby also affecting the immune system. However, the functional consequences of this are still ill-defined. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy pigs were incubated with different DON concentrations in the presence of Concanavalin A (ConA), a plant-derived polyclonal T-cell stimulant. T-cell subsets were investigated for proliferation and expression of CD8&#945;, CD27, and CD28, which are involved in activation and costimulation of porcine T cells. A clear decrease in proliferation of all ConA-stimulated major T-cell subsets (CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and &#947;&#948; T cells) was observed in DON concentrations higher than 0.4 &#181;M. This applied in particular to na&#239;ve CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. From 0.8 &#956;M onwards, DON induced a reduction of CD8&#945; (CD4⁺) and CD27 expression (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells). CD28 expression was diminished in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells at a concentration of 1.6 &#181;M DON. None of these effects were observed with the DON-derivative deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) at 16 &#181;M. These results indicate that DON reduces T-cell proliferation and the expression of molecules involved in T-cell activation, providing a molecular basis for some of the described immunosuppressive effects of DON.