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Ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CTN) are nephrotoxic mycotoxins often found together in grain. The aim of this study was to measure their accumulation in the kidney and liver of adult male Wistar rats, see how it would be affected by combined treatment, and to determine if resveratrol (RSV) would decrease their levels in these organs. The rats received 125 or 250 mg/kg bw of OTA by gavage every day for 21 days and/or 20 mg/kg bw of CTN a day for two days. Two groups of rats treated with OTA+CTN were also receiving 20 mg/kg bw of RSV a day for 21 days. In animals receiving OTA alone, its accumulation in both organs was dose-dependent. OTA+CTN treatment resulted in lower OTA but higher CTN accumulation in both organs at both OTA doses. RSV treatment increased OTA levels in the kidney and liver and decreased CTN levels in the kidney. Our findings point to the competition between CTN and OTA for organic anion transporters 1 and 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different commercial products for mycotoxin deactivation in the dairy cows’ nutrition. The research was done on the 18 dairy cows in the different phase of lactation, with the average production of 14 L of milk per day. The diet contained in average 8 kg of concentrate feed, 10 kg of mixed peas and wheat forage, 4 kg hay of alfalfa and cereal straw ad libitum. Before starting the trials all components of the cows’ ration were analysed for the presence of aflatoxin B1, while cow’s milk was analysed for the presence of aflatoxin M1. In the first phase of the trial cows were fed diet containing aflatoxin B1 at level of 5±0.9 µg/kg, which resulted in the average aflatoxin M1concentration of 181±3.5 ng/kg in the milk. In the second phase of the trail 0.5 % of the commercial product 1 (Neozel®) was added into the feed ration of cows and after the period of adaptation, the aflatoxin M1 concentration in milk was measured. In the third phase of the trail 0.3 % of the commercial product 2 (miko-Stop 0.3®) was added into the feed ration of cows and also, after the period of adaptation, the concentration of aflatoxin M1 in milk was measured. The last phase was the control phase in which cows were fed diets with aflatoxin B1 (5 µg/kg) without added mycotoxin deactivators. The use of both commercial products for ten days resulted in the reduction of aflatoxin M1 levels for 35.9 % and 53.6 %, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are chemical hazards of microbiological origin, produced mainly by filamentous fungi during their secondary metabolism. The role of mycotoxins has been recognized in the aetiology of a number of diseases, particularly cancers that belong to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The NCDs have a leading and growing contribution to preventable deaths and disability across the globe. The NCDs are known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. Following the increased interest in health effects caused by synergisms between natural and synthetic contaminants along the food chain, mycotoxin contamination will continue to be an area of concern for producers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, researchers and consumers in the future. Considering that their presence in food depends strongly on climatic conditions, in Serbia, recent drought and then flooding confirmed that mycotoxins are one of the foodborne hazards most susceptible to climate change. In this article, we review key aspects of mycotoxin contamination of the food supply chain and attempt to highlight the latest trends and projections for mycotoxin reduction from a Serbian perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of maize hybrids to the natural occurrence of toxigenic fungal species, in particular toxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species, and mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and total fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 (FBs)). Grain samples of six commercial maize hybrids (MAS 34.B - FAO 300, MAS 40.F, MAS 48.L, KWS Konfites and ZP 427 - FAO 400, and MAS 56.A - FAO 500) were collected at harvest in 2018. A total of seven fungal genera, Acremonium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Penicillium and Rhizopus, were identified of which only species from the genus Fusarium were present on maize grains of all hybrids tested. The incidence of Fusarium spp. was higher in the hybrids MAS 48.L (54.6%), and MAS 56.A (53.3%), compared to MAS 40.F (37.3%), KWS Konfites (28%), MAS 34.B (22.6%) and ZP 427 (12%) hybrids. Among the identified Fusarium species (F. graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. verticillioides), F. proliferatum was present in all hybrids, ranging from 9.3% (ZP 427) to 30.7% (MAS 48.L), whereas F. subglutinans was present in two hybrids, MAS 40.F (16%) and MAS 56.A (9.3%). The incidence of F. graminearum ranged from 0% (KWS Konfites) to 9.3% (MAS 34.B), while the incidence of F. verticillioides ranged from 0% (MAS 34.B and ZP 427) to 21.3% (MAS 48.L). In the samples, Aspergillus species were not identified. The effect of maize hybrids was significant on the level of mycotoxins. MAS 34.B hybrid had a statistically significantly higher levels of AFB1 and DON than other hybrids. The FBs level was the highest in the hybrid MAS 34.B (1202 μg kg-1) and the lowest in the hybrid KWS Konfites (88.33 μg kg-1). However, the FBs level did not differ between hybrids MAS 34.B, MAS 40.F, and MAS 56.L, MAS 40.F, MAS 48.L, and MAS 56.A, and KWS Konfites and ZP 427. In all hybrids, AFB1, DON, and FBs levels were below the maximum permissible levels stipulated by the legislation of the European Union and the Republic of Serbia in unprocessed maize. The agro-ecological conditions in 2018 favored the development of Fusarium species on maize grains of the hybrids tested, especially fumonisin producing species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins that frequently contaminate food and feed and are primarily synthesized by moulds from the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternaria and Claviceps. These substances are very stable compounds, resistant to different conditions of food production, processing and storage. Mycotoxins can cause a number of adverse effects on human and animal health, so-called mycotoxicoses, including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and others, often acting simultaneously at multiple target sites in the body, depending on the toxicity of the mycotoxin itself and the dose and time of exposure. A large number of mycotoxins still lack sufficient evidence of their adverse effects on human health, but based on the established susceptibility of different animal species, it is assumed that similar effects can be induced in humans. At the same time, for most mycotoxins that occur frequently in food and feed, their effects in the body have not been elucidated and can vary from antagonistic to synergistic. This paper provides an overview of the mechanisms of action of mycotoxins of major public health importance and their toxic effects in the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a field experiment (54±1 days), 20 primiparous sows (day 89±2 of gestation) were randomly divided into two equal groups. The sows were fed diets naturally containing 0.3 mg/kg of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) for the control group and 5.1 mg/kg DON, 0.1 mg/kg zearalenone and 21.6 mg/kg fusaric acid for the experimental group. In the control group, the concentrations of zearalenone and fusaric acid were under detection limit. The sows from the experimental group consumed significantly less feed during gestation (P=0.002), during lactation (P=0.027) and in the weaning to oestrus interval (P<0.001) than control sows. Blood samples were taken four times during the experiment (day 0, 17, 42 and 52). There were no differences in total and differential blood leukocyte count, with the exception of neutrophils on day 52, which reached 42.22±9.02% in the experimental group and 32.10±10.65% in the control group (P=0.040). Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes with monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4 and CD8 revealed the percent of both CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells. We calculated the absolute number of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells (109/L), which showed a decreasing trend in the experimental group, with 2.40±0.63 and 3.83±1.15, respectively, at the beginning and 1.78±0.39 and 2.74±0.89, respectively, at the end of experiment. In the control group, these values were 2.19±0.70 and 3.41±0.87 and finally 2.12±0.69 and 3.11±1.12 x 109/L, respectively. The obtained results suggest that feed naturally contaminated with Fusarium toxins reduces the feed intake, influences the neutrophil count, and has immunomodulatory effect on T lymphocyte numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are toxic substances that frequently contaminate food and feed, causing adverse effects on human and animal health and significant economic losses around the world. This paper gives an overview of the current research and knowledge of mycotoxin biological detoxification methods. Biological detoxification implies the use of microorganisms and their enzymes with the aim of degrading or modifying the mycotoxin structure, resulting in the transformation of the original compounds and the formation of less toxic products, or decontamination of mycotoxins. However, previous research and findings have not yet resulted in application in the food and livestock industry, or by approving their use by legislation. Further research is needed on biodegradation mechanisms, microorganism safety, or influence of the application of biological methods on nutritional properties and resulting degradation products, so that mycotoxin biological detoxification methods can be effectively applied in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in order to investigate the natural occurrence of toxigenic fungi and levels of zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the maize stored immediately after harvesting in 2016 and used for animal feed in Serbia. A total of 22 maize samples were collected from four different districts across the country: City of Belgrade (nine samples), Šumadija (eight samples), Podunavlje (four samples) and Kolubara (one sample). Toxigenic fungi were identified according to the morphological characteristics whereas the mycotoxins contamination were detected using biochemistry enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent (ELISA) assay. The tested samples were mostly infected with Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium spp., except that one sample originated from Kolubara was not contaminated with Aspergillus species. Fusarium graminearum was the most common species in the maize sample from Kolubara district (60%), F. verticillioides in the maize samples from Podunavlje (43.75%) and City of Belgrade (22.4%) districts, and Penicillium spp. in the maize samples from Šumadija district (26.38%). In the analysed maize samples the presence of Aspergillus species was low (0-1.78%). Mycotoxicological analysis revealed the presence of zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in all the investigated samples, except that DON and AFB1 were not recorded in the samples from Podunavlje and Kolubara districts, respectively. The investigated samples were highly contaminated with ZEA, with incidence of 100% for the samples from Šumadija, Podunavlje and Kolubara districts and 88.89% for the samples from City of Belgrade district. In addition, the samples contamination with DON was 100% and 22.2% for the samples from Šumadija, Kolubara and City of Belgrade, districts, respectively. The highest number of AFB1 positive samples was found in Šumadija district (87.5%), while in the City of Belgrade and Podunavlje districts, 55.56% and 50% AFB1 positive samples were established, respectively. Generally, remarkable infection of all the tested samples with toxigenic fungal species from Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium genera were recorded. In addition, high contamination with mycotoxins ZEA, DON and AFB1 were also recorded; nevertheless, only in one sample the level of DON exceeded the allowed legal limit (1750 μg kg-1) according to Regulation for unprocessed maize. Therefore, permanent mycological and mycotoxicological analyses of maize grain are necessary for risk assessment of fungal and mycotoxin contamination throughout the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or lycopene on the levels of selenium, zinc, and copper in the liver, kidneys, and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were treated with OTA (0.5 mg kg-1 day-1) and/or lycopene (5 mg kg-1 day-1) by gavage for 7 or 14 days. Trace element levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. OTA significantly lowered selenium (20 % in the liver, 17 % in the kidney, and 40 % in the testis), zinc (24 % in the liver, 23 % in the kidney, and 26 % in the testis), and copper levels (40 % in the liver and 10 % in the kidney). Lycopene alone did not affect the trace element levels in any of the organs. In combination with OTA, however, it significantly restored liver, kidney, and testis selenium and zinc levels compared to the group treated with OTA alone. Our results have confirmed that depletion of trace elements in different organs is one of the mechanisms of action of OTA. They also suggest that lycopene interferes with this depleting effect and restores trace element levels, the implications of which need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of the moulds that pose a significant problem in the field of food safety and risk to the health and well-being of humans and animals. The effectiveness of mycotoxin removal from food and feed, primarily cereals as the most contaminated food group, depends on a number of parameters, of which the properties of the contaminated material, its composition, primary water content and the level of contamination, are the most significant. This manuscript provides an overview of physical and chemical methods that can be used more or less effectively in the treatment of different types of food and feed with the aim of mycotoxins reduction or elimination. Elimination of mycotoxins by physical methods involves their solvent extraction, adsorption and thermal inactivation or irradiation inactivation. The most important methods are color and density sorting, peeling and milling, flotation, blanching, roasting, with the use of gamma radiation and cold plasma is very important in the last period. Implementation of chemical methods involve the use of chemicals in conversion of mycotoxins to other less toxic compounds, e.g. acids, alkalis, oxidants, bisulphites and gases, but conversion to toxic compounds is also possible, and is still the subject of numerous studies. Unlike physical methods, chemical methods of mycotoxins elimination are in principle considered to be impractical and undesirable due to the conditions of implementation, the creation of toxic residues and a negative impact on the nutritional, sensory and functional properties of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or lycopene on the levels of selenium, zinc, and copper in the liver, kidneys, and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were treated with OTA (0.5 mg kg day) and/or lycopene (5 mg kg day) by gavage for 7 or 14 days. Trace element levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. OTA significantly lowered selenium (20 % in the liver, 17 % in the kidney, and 40 % in the testis), zinc (24 % in the liver, 23 % in the kidney, and 26 % in the testis), and copper levels (40 % in the liver and 10 % in the kidney). Lycopene alone did not affect the trace element levels in any of the organs. In combination with OTA, however, it significantly restored liver, kidney, and testis selenium and zinc levels compared to the group treated with OTA alone. Our results have confirmed that depletion of trace elements in different organs is one of the mechanisms of action of OTA. They also suggest that lycopene interferes with this depleting effect and restores trace element levels, the implications of which need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives of environmental contaminants are heavy metals, dioxins, organophosphorus and organochlorine compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and mycotoxins. Their presence in food of animal origin can be due to the animal feeding with contaminated food and water (carry-over effect) or direct contamination as a result of contaminated ingredients in production (e.g. spices) or generally inappropriate conditions in food processing. Toxicity of environmental chemicals that enter the food chain through their occurrence as residues in food of animal origin can be manifested in the human organism by adverse biological activity. Toxic effects among consumers depend inter alia on the amount of individual contaminants in food and their intake into the body. In order to reduce risk of exposure to chemical toxicants present in the food of animal origin, it is important to carry out systematic controls at all critical points during the production and storage process, starting from the raw materials used in the production to the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of food by mycotoxins represent a serious threat to human health, especially when it comes to food that is very frequently used in the diet, but also represent a significant source of mycotoxins. The reduction of mycotoxins by procedures of food processing can be achieved by its degradation, elimination or transformation into less toxic derivatives, although complete elimination of mycotoxins from the food chain through processing is difficult to achieve. Techniques for elimination of mycotoxins should be preceded by the determination of the chemical composition and toxicity of resulting reaction product. In the absence of the necessary toxicological data, for the forms of mycotoxins that are produced during the processing of food is assumed to have the same level of toxicity, the same bioavailability and the same carcinogenic potential as the original compounds. Priority for the development of elimination methods should have mycotoxins with undesirable toxicological profiles that are frequently and in high concentrations occur in often consumed foods. The ultimate goal of the application of these methods is to prevent the harmful effects of mycotoxins to the health of consumers as a result of exposure to food contaminants, taking care to preserve nutrient and organoleptic properties of raw materials as also of finished products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by some Fusarium species in food and feed. The toxicity of ZEA and its metabolites is related to the chemical structure of the mycotoxin, which is similar to naturally occurring oestrogens. Currently, there is increasing awareness of the presence of fungi and their toxic metabolites in the aquatic environment. One of the sources of these compounds are the effluents from wastewater treatment plants. The average annual efficiency of zearalenone reduction in the Łęczyca plant in our three-year study was in the range from 51.35 to 69.70 %. The three-way analysis of variance (year, month, and kind of wastewater) shows that the main effects of all factors and all interactions between them were significant for zearalenone and dissolved organic carbon content. Our findings suggest that wastewater is not the main source of surface water pollution with zearalenone. Future research should investigate the means to reduce ZEA and its migration from the fields through prevention strategies such as breeding for crops, plant debris management (crop rotation, tillage), and/or chemical and biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legume crops are exposed to infection by fungal pathogens, which often results in contamination with mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of field resistance/susceptibility of edible and fodder pea cultivars to the colonization of seeds by fungal pathogens in two subsequent seasons, as well as to identify the pathogens present in the seeds of the tested cultivars. Alternaria spp. were the most common fungi isolated from pea seeds in both seasons, followed by Fusarium spp., Stemphylium spp., Ulocladium spp., Botrytis cinerea Pers., Epicoccum nigrum Link., and Phomapinodella L. K. Jones. The highest percentage of infected seeds (55 %) was recorded for cultivar Ezop. The presence of a large number of fungi was found in 2012 for cultivars Santana, Tarchalska, Medal, Cysterski, Mentor, Lasso, and Ezop. Fodder cultivars displayed a lower infection level than edible cultivars. We can conclude that Alternaria spp. were the most frequent fungi present in pea seeds in Poland and Fusarium spp. were likely the most dangerous, having in mind their established mycotoxigenic abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease outbreaks due to the consumption of contaminated food and feedstuff are a recurring problem worldwide. The major factor contributing to contamination are microorganisms, especially fungi, which produce low-molecular-weight compounds as secondary metabolites, with confirmed toxic properties referred to as mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that invade crops at the field level and may grow on foods during storage under favorable conditions. The toxigenic fungi of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternari and Clavicepshave genera are of the greatest consequence to food safety. Mycotoxins, of over 400 that are known, which have the most food safety, nutritive, ecologic and economic significance include the aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, tremorgenic mycotoxinsand ergotalcaloides. Some molds are capable of producing more than one mycotoxin and some mycotoxins are produced by more than one fungal species. Often more than one mycotoxin is found on a contaminated substrate. Factors influencing the presence of mycotoxins in foods or feeds include environmental conditions related to storage that can be controlled. Other extrinsic factors such as climate or intrinsic factors such as fungal strain specificity, strain variation, and instability of toxigenic properties are more difficult to control. Exposure to mycotoxins is mostly by ingestion, but also occurs by the dermal and inhalation routes. The diseases caused by exposure to mycotoxins are known as myco-toxicoses. Mycotoxins have various acute and chronic effects on humans and animals (especially monogastrics) depending on species and susceptibility of an animal within a species. Ruminants, however, are generally more resistant to the adverse effects of mycotoxins. This is because the rumen microbiota is capable of degrading mycotoxins. The economic impact of mycotoxins include loss of human and animal life, increased health care and veterinary care costs, reduced livestock production, disposal of contaminated foods and feeds, and investment in research and applications to reduce severity of the mycotoxin problem. This review is meant to be informative not only for health-conscious consumers but also for experts in the field to pave the way for future research to fill the existing gaps in our knowledge in regard to mycotoxins and food safety. In this review, the focus is on the occurrence of various types of mycotoxins in food and feed associated with risks to humans and livestock, as well as legislation put forth by various authorities. Brief descriptions on recent developments in mycotoxin detection methodology and on presently practiced detoxification methods are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building associated illnesses -- sick building syndrome (SBS) as a common example -- are associated with staying in buildings with poor indoors air quality. The importance of indoor fungal growth in this phenomenon continues to be evident, even though no causative relation has been established so far. Indoor humidity is strongly associated with the symptoms of SBS. Fungal metabolites that may induce ill health in susceptible occupants comprise beta-D-glucan, mycotoxins, and volatile organic compounds as known irritants and/or immunomodulators. Indoor toxic fungal metabolites might be located in micromycetal propagules (endometabolites), in (bio-)aerosol, detritus, and house dust (exometabolites) as their particular carriers. It is highly probable that hyphal fragments, dust, and particles able to reach the alveoli have the strongest depository and toxic potential. Most fungal spores are entrapped by the upper respiratory tract and do not reach further than the bronchi because of their size, morphology, and the mode of propagation (such as slime heads and aggreggation). This is why studies of the toxic effects of fungal spores prefer directly applying metabolite mixtures to mimicking real exposure. Chronic low-level exposure to a mixture of fungal toxicants and other indoor stressors may have synergistic effects and lead to severe neuroendocrineimmune changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several species of the genus Fusarium can cause apple fruit to rot while stored. Since Fusarium taxonomy is very complex and has constantly been revised and updated over the last years, the aim of this study was to identify Fusarium species from rotten apples, based on combined morphological characteristics and molecular data. We identified 32 Fusarium isolates from rotten apple fruit of cultivars Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Idared, and Pink Lady, stored in Ultra Low Oxygen (ULO) conditions. Fusarium rot was detected in 9.4 % to 33.2 % of naturally infected apples, depending on the cultivar. The symptoms were similar in all four cultivars: a soft circular brown necrosis of different extent, with or without visible sporulation. Fusarium species were identified by the morphology of cultures grown on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) and carnation leaf agar (CLA). Twenty-one isolates were identified as Fusarium avenaceum and confi rmed as such with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specifi c primer pair FA-ITSF and FA-ITSR. F. pseudograminearum, F. semitectum, F. crookwellense, and F. compactum were identifi ed by morphological characteristics. F. avenaceum can produce several mycotoxins and its dominance in Fusarium rot points to the risk of mycotoxin contamination of apple fruit juices and other products for human consumption. Pathogenicity tests showed typical symptoms of Fusarium rot in most of the inoculated wounded apple fruits. In this respect Fusarium avenaceum, as the dominant cause of Fusarium rot in stored apple a fruit is a typical wound parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to contamination of barley grains by Fusarium langsethiae, T-2 toxin can be present in the brewing process. It has been observed that the presence of the yeast Geotrichum candidum during malting can reduce the final concentration of this mycotoxin in beer. In this work, a co-culture method was carried out for both microorganisms in order to evaluate the effect on T-2 mycotoxin concentration in comparison with the pure culture of F. langsethiae in the same conditions. The microbial growth of both microorganisms was assessed using three different methods: dry weight, DOPE-FISH, and DNA quantification. In coculture, both microorganisms globally developed less than in pure cultures but G. candidum showed a better growth than F. langsethiae. The concentration of T-2 was reduced by 93 % compared to the pure culture. Hence, the interaction between G. candidum and F. langsethiae led to a drastic mycotoxin reduction despite the only partial inhibition of fungal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One strain of Aspergillus flavus ATCC 26949 and one strain of Fusarium graminearum ZMPBF 1244 were used to investigate the effect of growth in mixed culture on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation in respect to time and temperature of cultivation in vitro. The experiments were carried out with aflatoxigenous mould A. flavus ATCC 26949 in pure culture and in mixed culture, respectively, the latter with the common mould F. graminearum ZMPBF 1244. F. graminearum does not produce aflatoxins and chromatographycally similar compounds. The amount of biomass was estimated by measuring the chitin content; the aflatoxin accumulation by means of UV light and ELISA method. It was established that the accumulation of AFB1 primarily depend on the temperature of cultivation, rather than on growth of the mycelium. The biomass of the mixed culture of A. flavus and F. graminearum after 35 days of cultivation reduces the amount of AFB1 by 55 to 76% in respect to highest values obtained in experiments with the pure culture of A. flavus. Decrease of this toxin amount is more pronounced in the substrate at the higher water content and at the higher temperature of cultivation. As a general rule, cultures grown in mixed culture under investigate temperature conditions produced less amount of AFB1 than A. flavus grown in pure culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species frequently contaminate crops. For this reason mycotoxins such as aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FBs), and zearalenone (ZEA) are found in food and feed in a wide range of concentrations, depending on environmental and storage conditions. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed has been associated with acute and chronic poisoning and carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and co-occurrence of AFs (B1+B2+G1+G2), OTA, FBs (B1+B2+B3), and ZEA in 37 samples of cereals and feed randomly collected in 2007 from households of an endemic nephropathy (EN) area in Croatia. The mycotoxins were determined using the competitive direct ELISA test (CD-ELISA) in combination with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The most frequent mycotoxin was ZEA (92 %, mean 318.3 lag kg-1), followed by FBs (27 %, 3690 µg kg-1), AFs (24.3 %, 4.6 µg kg-1), and OTA (16.2 %, 9.8 µg kg-1). Levels of AFs, ZEA, and FBs detected by CD-ELISA significantly correlated with the TLC results. However, only one OTA-positive sample was confirmed by TLC due to its high limit of detection. The levels of these mycotoxins were below the permissible limit for animal feed. Twenty-nine percent of cereals were contaminated with FBs, OTA, or ZEA in mass fractions above the permissible limit for humans. Co-occurrence of two toxins varied between 4.2 % and 54 % and of three between 4.2 % and 7.6 %. Prolonged co-exposure to AFs, OTA, FBs, and ZEA might increase the risk of various chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have a long history of use in therapy throughout the world and still make an important part of traditional medicine. Thus, medicinal plants and herbal products must be safe for the patient (consumer). This review addresses biological contaminants (microbes and other organisms) and chemical contaminants (mycotoxins, toxic elements such as heavy metals, and pesticide residues) as major common contaminants of medicinal herbs and herbal products. To prevent and screen for contamination and ensure safety and conformity to quality standards, medicinal herbs and herbal products should be included in appropriate regulatory framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2002 to 2008, 203 samples of wheat, maize, soybean, and pea were analysed for the presence of Fusarium species. Contamination with Fusarium spp., expressed as the percentage of seeds with Fusarium colonies, ranged from 5 % to 69 % for wheat, from 25 % to 100 % for maize, from 4 % to 17 % for soybean, and from 3 % to 17 % for pea. 187 isolates were collected and the following 19 species determined: F. graminearum, F. poae, F. avenaceum, F. verticillioides, F. sporotrichioides, F. heterosporum, F. crookwellense, F. tricinctum, F. semitectum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. pseudograminearum, F. chlamydosporum, F. sambucinum, F. compactum, F. scirpi, and F. culmorum. Dominant species were F. graminearum on wheat (27 % of isolates), F. verticillioides on maize (83 % of isolates), F. sporotrichioides on soybean (34 % of isolates), and F. proliferatum on pea (29 % of isolates). Among species identified, F. heterosporum, F. crookwellense, F. pseudograminearum, F. sambucinum, and F. compactum have been reported for the first time in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years scientists have suspected that the environment plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) is produced by several Fusarium species, mainly by Fusarium verticilioides, which is one of the most common fungi associated with corn worldwide. Fumonisins are known to cause equine leukoencephalomalacia, a disease associated with the consumption of corn-based feeds contaminated with FB1. Here we have reported chronic experimental toxicosis in one-year-old carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) receiving feed containing 100 mg kg-1 or 10 mg kg-1 of added FB1 for 42 days. We focused on fumonisin toxicity in the fish brain. After staining with hemalaun-eosin, histology of the fish brain revealed vacuolated, degenerate, or necrotic neural cells, scattered around damaged blood capillaries and in the periventricular area. These findings suggest that fumonisin, although it is a hydrophilic molecule, permeated the blood-brain barrier of young carp and had a toxic effect on neuronal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite many efforts of scientists and epidemiologists, the aetiology of endemic nephropathy (EN) is still unknown. This disease occurs in the rural population of geographically limited areas of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia, and a number of theories have been proposed about its aetiology. The mycotoxin theory has prevailed until now, based on the studies of nephrotoxic mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) that revealed higher frequency of OTA-positive food and blood samples in endemic than in non-endemic areas. However, a new aristolochic acid (AA) theory of EN origin has been proposed recently, due to the histological similarities in kidney lesions between patients suffering from EN and patients suffering from Chinese herbs nephropathy caused by AA. Until now it has not been unequivocally proved that the inhabitants of EN areas are exposed to higher concentration of AA than in other regions and the exposure pathways are rather uncertain. This paper presents most important studies supporting both theories, indicating also the inconsistencies of each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate biotic interaction between some mould species and active producer of aflatoxin B1 Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251, co-cultured in yeast-extract sucrose (YES) broth. Twenty-five mould strains of Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Mucor spp., A. flavus and A. niger, used as biocompetitive agents, were isolated from outdoor and indoor airborne fungi, scrapings of mouldy household walls, and from stored and post-harvest maize. Aflatoxin B1 was extracted from mould biomasses with chloroform and detected using the multitoxin TLC method. The results confirm antagonistic interaction between all strains tested. With Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp., aflatoxin B1 production decreased 100 %, compared to detection in a single culture of A. flavus NRRL 3251 (Cmean=18.7 µg mL-1). In mixed cultures with Mucor spp., aflatoxin B1 levels dropped to (5.6-9.3) µg mL-1, and the inhibition was from 50 % to 70 %. Four of five aflatoxin non-producing strains of A. flavus interfered with aflatoxin production in mixed culture, and reduced AFB1 productivity by 100 %. One strain showed a lower efficacy in inhibiting AFB1 production (80 %) with a detectable amount of AFB1 3.7 µg mL-1 when compared to control. A decrease in toxin production was also observed in dual cultivation with A. niger strains. It resulted in 100 % reduction in three strains), 90 % reduction in one strain (Cmean=1.9 µg mL-1) and 80 % reduction in one strain (Cmean=3.7 µg mL-1) inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]