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PubMed2000

Reduction of pulmonary toxicity of Stachybotrys chartarum spores by methanol extraction of mycotoxins.

The fungus Stachybotrys chartarum has been implicated in cases of nonspecific indoor air quality complaints in adults and in cases of pulmonary hemorrhaging in infants. The effects that have been described have been attributed to mycotoxins. Previous dose-effect studies focused on exposure to a single mycotoxin in a solvent, a strategy which is unlikely to accurately characterize the effects of inhaled spores. In this study we examined the role of mycotoxins in the pulmonary effects caused by S. chartarum spores and the dose dependency of these effects. S. chartarum spores were extracted in methanol to reduce the mycotoxin content of the spores. Then either untreated (toxin-containing) or methanol-extracted S. chartarum spores were intratracheally instilled into male 10-week-old Charles River-Dawley rats. After 24 h, the lungs were lavaged, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was analyzed to determine differences in lactic dehydrogenase, albumin, hemoglobin, myeloperoxidase, and leukocyte differential counts. Weight change was also monitored. Our data show that methanol extraction dramatically reduced the toxicity of S. chartarum spores. No statistically significant effects were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of the animals that were treated with methanol-extracted spores at any dose. Conversely, dose-dependent effects of the toxin-containing spores were observed when we examined the lactic dehydrogenase, albumin, and hemoglobin concentrations, the polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts, and weight loss. Our findings show that a single, intense exposure to toxin-containing S. chartarum spores results in pulmonary inflammation and injury in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, the effects are related to methanol-soluble toxins in the spores.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins in mice.

BACKGROUND: Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition, antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the present study was undertaken. METHODS: Production of biomass and toxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus ochraceus were followed in media without and with honey. Although aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. were administrated to male Swiss albino mice up to 1 mug and 10 ng/kg body weight/day respectively. The experimental animals were fed diets without our with 10% honey for two months. The changes in colonic probiotic bacteria, determintal colon enzyme glucuronidases, and genotoxicity were followed. RESULTS: Addition of 32% in its media increased the biomass of A parasiticus, while the biomass of A. ochraceus decreased and Ochratoxin A. was not produced. When the honey was added at the ratio of 32 and 48% in the medium. No relationship was found between mycelium weight and production of mycotoxins. Oral administration of aflatoxins (mixture of B1, B2, G1 and G2) and Ochratoxin A. induced structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and germ cells of male mice, whereas, honey treatment reduced the genotoxicity of mycotoxins. Also both toxins induced histopathological changes in liver and kidney. Feeding on diet supplemented with honey improved the histopathological changes in case of aflatoxin group, but not in the case of ochratoxin A. group (except of kidney in two cases). No significant differences were found in the activity of colon beta-glucuronidase between group fed diet with or without honey. On the other hand, the colon bifido bacteria and lactobacilli counts were increased markedly in group receiving diet supplemented with honey. CONCLUSION: Substituting sugars with honey in processed food can inhibit the harmful and genotoxic effects of mycotoxins, and improve the gut microflora.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed1985

Fusarial mycotoxins and behaviour: possible implications for psychiatric disorder.

Man and animals are sporadically exposed to mycotoxins (the secondary metabolites of moulds), which include those produced in damp and cool environment by the almost ubiquitous soil-microfungi, the Fusaria. Perinatal exposure to the mycotoxins may cause damage to many organs, including the CNS and those which are targets for oestrogenic agents. Depending on the levels of the mycotoxins and the time of their action, the effects may manifest themselves as neonatal abnormalities, or as neurological and behavioural anomalies and chronic disorders later in life. The relationship between the anatomical and behavioural development of individuals and their perinatal exposure to fusarial mycotoxins requires further investigation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Novel strategies to control mycotoxins in feeds: a review.

Mycotoxin-producing fungi may contaminate agricultural products in the field (preharvest spoilage), during storage (postharvest spoilage), or during processing. Mycotoxin contamination of foods and feeds poses serious health hazard to animals and humans. For lowering mycotoxin contamination of feeds and foods, several strategies have been investigated that can be divided into biological, chemical and physical methods. This paper gives an overview of strategies which are promising with regard to lowering the mycotoxin burden of animals and humans.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1992

Mycotoxins in foods and feeds in the United States.

Mycotoxins are considered unavoidable contaminants in foods and feeds because agronomic technology has not yet advanced to the stage at which preharvest infection of susceptible crops by fungi can be eliminated. The aflatoxins have received greater attention than any of the other mycotoxins because of their demonstrated carcinogenic effects in susceptible animals and their acute toxic effects in humans. Since 1965, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has enforced regulatory limits on the concentrations of these toxins in foods and feeds involved in interstate commerce. The FDA routinely monitors the food and feed industries through compliance programs to ensure that the levels of exposure to these toxins are kept as low as practical. This report summarizes data generated from compliance programs on aflatoxins for the fiscal years 1989, 1990, and the first half of 1991. Commodities sampled included peanuts and peanut products, tree nuts, corn and corn products, cottonseed, and milk. Higher than usual levels of contamination were found in corn examined from all areas of the United States in 1989 as a result of the severe drought that affected the 1988 corn crop. The drought in parts of the South and Southeast in 1990 resulted in increased contamination in corn and peanuts from those areas. A review of the surveillance data obtained on deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, penicillic acid, and patulin over the years along with available toxicological data for these mycotoxins indicated that no regulatory actions were warranted. The lack of sufficient surveillance data on other mycotoxins that occur in the United States can be attributed in part to the unavailability of reliable analytical methodology.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMed2003

Mycotoxins of aspergilli: exposure and health effects.

Mycotoxins derived from Aspergilli can be encountered both in domestic and occupational environments, and the exposure may lead to severe health hazards. Several Aspergillus species are associated with mycotoxin production: A. ochraceus with ochratoxin A, A. fumigatus with fumitremorgins, gliotoxin and verrucologen, A. versicolor with sterigmatocystin, and A. flavus and A. parasiticus with aflatoxins. Sterigmatocystin may also be produced by A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. rugulosus, and A. unguis. Exposure to mycotoxin may occur via enteric, inhalation or direct contact to skin and mucosa. Acute and chronic disorders, irritation, systemic reactions and even cancer may develop after the exposure to these toxins. Mycotoxins act as immunosuppressants which may be in association with an increased prevalence of repeated infections found among the inhabitants of buildings with moisture problems.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Spice oils for the control of co-occurring mycotoxin-producing fungi.

The effect of nine different oils was evaluated on the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus and Fusarium moniliforme. The experimental design to examine the inhibition of mycotoxins involved the incorporation of each of seven oils into broth and patty cultures. The fungal mycotoxin was identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Clove oil (eugenol) was the most inhibitory to the growth of A. parasiticus and F. moniliforme, followed by cinnamon (cinnamic aldehyde), oregano (thymol and carvacol) and mace oils (myristin). Neem and eucalyptus oil (cineole) did not affect fungal growth. The feasibility of implementing the results of this study to control mycotoxin toxicity was examined by costoring whole and ground cloves with mycotoxin-infected grain. Addition of both whole and ground cloves markedly reduced the aflatoxin contamination of the grain. These results clearly suggest that commonly occurring mycotoxigenic fungi can be controlled with clove oil (eugenol), thus spice oil successfully inhibited the growth of A. parasiticus and F. moniliforme, regulated the production of fumonisins. and prevented the formation of aflatoxins. The social implication of this finding is that rural communities can prevent the formation of fungal toxins in contaminated grain by simple measures.

Aspergillus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fusarium mycotoxins in corn and corn products in a high-risk area for gastric cancer in Shandong Province, China.

Consumption of fermented, but not unfermented, corn pancakes has been linked with elevated stomach cancer mortality rates in rural Linqu County in Shandong Province, China. Previous surveys of fungal contamination of corn in China have detected fumonisins, which are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme. To determine whether mycotoxins might account for the increased risk of cancer among those consuming fermented pancakes, we obtained specimens of corn, cornmeal, unfermented and fermented pancake batter, and cooked fermented pancakes from each of 16 households in Linqu County for analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 were detected (> or = 0.5 microgram/g) in 19, 25, and 6% of the corn specimens, respectively, as well as in various corn products. No type A trichothecenes were detected; however, the type B trichothecenes deoxynivalenol and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol were detected (> or = 0.5 microgram/g) in 58 and 17% of the corn specimens, respectively, and zearalenone was detected (> or = 0.5 microgram/g) in 15% of the cornmeal specimens. The mycotoxins were detected only at low levels (< 10 micrograms/g), which did not increase with fermentation. These findings do not support the hypothesis that mycotoxin contamination increases the risk of gastric cancer among those who consume fermented Chinese pancakes.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Toxic effects of mycotoxins in humans.

Mycotoxicoses are diseases caused by mycotoxins, i.e. secondary metabolites of moulds. Although they occur more frequently in areas with a hot and humid climate, favourable for the growth of moulds, they can also be found in temperate zones. Exposure to mycotoxins is mostly by ingestion, but also occurs by the dermal and inhalation routes. Mycotoxicoses often remain unrecognized by medical professionals, except when large numbers of people are involved. The present article reviews outbreaks of mycotoxicoses where the mycotoxic etiology of the disease is supported by mycotoxin analysis or identification of mycotoxin-producing fungi. Epidemiological, clinical and histological findings (when available) in outbreaks of mycotoxicoses resulting from exposure to aflatoxins, ergot, trichothecenes, ochratoxins, 3-nitropropionic acid, zearalenone and fumonisins are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Prevention of exposure to mycotoxins from food and feed.

Mycotoxins are metabolites of moulds that may be found in food and feed of plant and animal origin. This paper gives a short review of the agronomical methods and food and feed storage recommendations for the prevention of mould contamination. It describes the practical methods of feed decontamination and the use of feed additives where mycotoxin contamination prevention has failed. However, these methods should be avoided as much as possible because they may increase the cost of production, reduce the nutritional value of feed, and leave residues of mycotoxins or their toxic metabolites. Since there is no universal and reliable method of feed decontamination for all mycotoxins, the paper stresses the importance of preventive measures.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2004

Dietary origin of mycotoxins with estrogenic potential and possible health implications to female dogs.

In Poland, occurrence of toxigenic fungi in cereals, foods, feeds and their components as well as mycotoxins accumulation in such material has been studied by numerous teams including our research group for over thirty years since 1969. Mostly cereal kernels and feeds have been examined for presence of toxigenic fungi, their toxigenic potential and natural contamination with mycotoxins. Ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and moniliformin were found to be significant contaminants of agricultural products in high percentage of cereal grain samples. The profile of toxic metabolites was similar but the concentration levels of the toxins were lower when compared to already published data of the same climate zone. Zearalenone (ZEA), a nonsteroidal mycotoxin with estrogen-like activity, is synthesized by molds (Fusarium) commonly contaminating poorly stored agricultural products and foodstuffs. Since in the course of examinations and during surgical procedures performed in dogs, ovarian cysts were detected and because frequently this is the first stage of the endometrica pyometra complex (EPC) found in approximately 30% of the females we assume that both factors, mycotoxins (ZEA) and pathological aberrations are possibly related in these animals. Similar activity of the toxin (possibly present in pelleted dog feed) and effects including infertility of female dogs is speculated with indication and suggestion on necessity of additional studies on the problem.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2005

Fusarium spp. and Fusarium mycotoxins in maize: a problem for Flanders?

Fusarium species cause not only root, stem and ear rot with severe reductions in crop yield, they produce also toxic secondary metabolites (mycotoxins) such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). During several growing seasons the presence of Fusarium spp was followed up. DON and ZEA were determined and related to infection levels. The distribution of DON and ZEA in the different plant parts was studied as well as the influence of the ensiling process on the mycotoxin content. More or less important varietal differences in susceptibility for Fusarium spp. could be detected. DON and ZEA were clearly present in most of the analysed samples. No clear relationship could be detected between visual disease symptoms and mycotoxin content. The accumulation of DON and ZEA was different for the analysed aerial plant parts. The ensiling process gave no reduction of the mycotoxin content.

Belgium↗

PubMed1991

Ochratoxin A and other mycotoxins in cereals from an area of Balkan endemic nephropathy and urinary tract tumours in Bulgaria.

The etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy and urinary tract tumours in the rural population of the endemic regions remains unknown. As one hypothesis involves mycotoxins, a survey was carried out to investigate the possible involvement of the nephrotoxic mycotoxins ochratoxin A and citrinin. Recently, this survey was extended to screening for the presence of other mycotoxins--aflatoxins, citrinin, sterigmatocystin and zearalenone. A total of 524 samples of home-produced and home-stored beans and maize from the harvests of 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990 were analysed. Ochratoxin A was found in samples from both endemic and nonendemic areas, but more of the samples from affected families were contaminated, and at higher levels, than those from unaffected households. Citrinin and aflatoxins B1 and G1 were also found more frequently in samples from endemic areas. These results support the theory that mycotoxins are involved in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy and urinary tract tumours.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Postcollection enhancement of mycotoxins and postharvest handling of samples.

Postcollection enhancement of mycotoxins in food samples can occur extremely rapidly at moisture levels above 13-13.5%. The "storage fungi," principally the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, are capable of rapid growth and potential mycotoxin production at specific moisture levels from 13.5 to 18-20% moisture, whereas "field fungi," such as the genera Fusarium and Pithomyces, may become the predominant species and produce their characteristic mycotoxins at higher moisture levels. Moisture content and temperature are the primary environmental factors conditioning mold growth, although once growth has occurred, mycotoxin production per se may be affected by feed addition. Postharvest handling of samples to ensure safe storage requires that the samples either be rapidly dried to moisture levels below the minimum or be maintained dry. Certain chemicals may be used to inhibit mold growth.

Aflatoxin B1↗

PubMed1990

Are mycotoxins risk factors for endemic nephropathy and associated urothelial cancers?

Evidence supporting a role of mycotoxin, in particular ochratoxin A (OA) and citrinin, in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and associated urinary tract tumours (UTT) is reviewed. Both diseases occur in subjects born and/or living in certain rural areas where home-produced and home-stored stable foods were found to be more frequently contaminated by the OA and citrinin. OA levels in blood and urine from patients with BEN or UTT were higher than in controls. OA and possibly other mycotoxins cause endemic porcine nephropathy, a disease with morphology and clinical course similar to those of BEN. OA was carcinogenic in two rodent species with kidney as a major target organ. Animals and strains phenotype as fast metabolizers of debrisoquine were more susceptible to OA-induced carcinogenicity. Among BEN/UTT patients, a greater proportion of fast metabolizers was reported. Although no epidemiological proof of a direct causal role of mycotoxins in BEN/UTT etiology has been presented, the data accumulated so far indicate a need for prospective studies in which mycotoxins as well as other risk factors should be considered.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Past and future in mycotoxin toxicology research.

Before 1960 the toxicology of mycotoxins was mainly of concern to veterinarians, because outbreaks of mycotoxicoses resulted occasionally in considerable loss of livestock. By a wider use of biotests, preferably in mammals, a further decline of such intoxications probably will occur. Following the discovery of the carcinogenicity of some aflatoxins, the focus turned to human health. Screening tests for carcinogenicity are still in development. The test used most frequently is the Ames test on microorganisms. Unfortunately, many problems still must be resolved before an extrapolation of results from these tests to man is possible. Examination of the carcinogenic activity of mycotoxins in long-term animal experiments is often difficult due to lack of resources, lack of test material, and the toxicity of the compounds, which precludes administration of sufficiently high dose levels. The available data regarding a possible carcinogenic activity of several important mycotoxins, such as the trichothecenes or patulin, do not fulfill currently used criteria. Therefore further studies are needed. A new approach is determination of the binding capacity to DNA of suspected carcinogens, which seems to correlate well with carcinogenic potency. By this method, a high carcinogenicity of aflatoxin M1 can be deduced. However, the macromolecular-bound residues of aflatoxin B1, which may occur in tissues of domestic animals, most probably do not show carcinogenic activity. Although many questions are still unanswered, it seems that the numerous mycotoxins identified since 1960 are less toxic or carcinogenic and occur less frequently in food than do aflatoxins.

Aflatoxins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Analytical methods for mycotoxins].

Biological, physico-chemical and immunochemical methods are available today for solving the multiple problems which turn up in the course of mycotoxin diagnosis and mycotoxin research. In this review, selected analysis techniques are presented and their limits and possibilities are discussed. The biological methods (chicken-embryo-test, skin irritation test, cell cultures) indicate only toxicities, mostly without further specification for mycotoxins. In contrast, modern physico-chemical analysis (DC, HPLC, CLC, MS) allows the detection of defined mycotoxins in the picogram range; these methods should be employed or official and judicial purposes. The recently developed immunochemical methods (RIA, EIA) are characterized by a simple sample preparation, a short test duration and a high sensitivity; they could be used as a screening method in the course of mycotoxicological control of food and feed.

Animal Feed↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The significance of mycotoxin assimilation for meat animals].

Mycotoxins may influence animal health and may be responsible for alterations in carcass composition and quality. Of major interest is the formation of residues in edible tissues, which had been demonstrated for the mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 and its metabolites, for ochratoxin A, zearalenone, as well as some trichothecenes. The amount of detectable residue depends on the initial feed contamination, duration of toxin exposure and persistence of the toxin within the animal the latter varying according to the species. Thus, residues of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A could be detected with a higher frequency than residues of trichothecenes which are rapidly metabolized and therefore only rarely contribute to a contamination of edible tissues. However, sufficient data for the evaluation of approximative carry over rates are not available for all mycotoxins. The majority of mycotoxins are heat tolerant and therefore a decomposition during cooking or processing is almost unlikely.

Animals↗