Gastrointestinal Function and Toxicology in Canines
Shayne C. Gad in Toxicology of the Gastrointestinal Tract, 2018
Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that exert toxic effects on a variety of different systems and a broad spectrum of species [172,393]. These materials are typically found as contaminants in grains and grain-based products. There are a variety of different types of mycotoxins and we will speak of only one here, the trichothecenes. Trichothecenes are produced by Fusarium spp. and include such compounds as deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin), T-2 toxin, and diacetoxyscirpenol. Gastrointesinal toxicity is typically manifest as vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration and weight loss. Trichothecenes in general inhibit protein synthesis, which eventually causes cell death. Deoxynivalenol can delay gastric emptying and intestinal motor activity possibly through a serotonin-mediated pathway. The actively dividing tissues of the gastrointestinal tract are most susceptible to the actions of T-2. It is important to note that even for certified feed, the presence or levels of mycotoxins are not routinely determined by analysis.
Lyme Disease and the Heart
Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston in Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2015
Some people with Lyme disease have had mycotoxin exposure, which creates many of the same symptoms as Lyme disease. Animal research shows that some mycotoxins can cause various arrhythmias and even AV heart block, essentially indistinguishable from that seen with Lyme carditis.81 Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by fungi that are immune disruptive, fat soluble, and usually not easily biodegradable. The fungal microbes that produce mycotoxins are sometimes found in the human body, in water-damaged buildings in which people live or work, or in food or fluids that people consume or sometimes come from a combination of all of the above. Some Lyme patients develop fungal overgrowth in their gut and/or sinuses after taking antibiotics and then become more ill because of the fungus and its mycotoxins. Other patients get mycotoxin exposure initially from a water-damaged building and then when they get a tick bite sometime after that they become much more ill from the Borrelia and coinfections than they might have been otherwise, due to the immune-damaging effects of the mycotoxins. If patients are affected by mycotoxins when they get infected with Lyme microbes, then Borrelia and/or coinfections are more likely to cause Lyme carditis and other more serious Lyme disease complications.
Water and foodborne contamination *
Jamie Bartram, Rachel Baum, Peter A. Coclanis, David M. Gute, David Kay, Stéphanie McFadyen, Katherine Pond, William Robertson, Michael J. Rouse in Routledge Handbook of Water and Health, 2015
Fungal contamination of food products is primarily a concern due to their potential production of mycotoxins. Sufficient exposure to mycotoxins leads to adverse health effects that can include growth and immune impairment, cancer, and death. Human exposure to mycotoxins generally occurs through ingestion of cereals (e.g., maize, rye, wheat) and nuts (e.g., peanuts, pistachios) contaminated with mycotoxin-producing fungi (Bryden, 2007). Fungi that produce mycotoxins include species within the Aspergillus, Penicillium, Claviceps, Paecilomyces, and Fusarium genera. Aflatoxin, fumonisin, ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone are the most notable mycotoxins impacting human health (Bryden, 2007). Fungal contamination also has an economic impact as it may degrade food quality and thereby reduce food availability (Bryden, 2007).
Hepatic susceptibility to oxidative damage after repeated concomitant exposure to aspartame and aflatoxin B1 in rats
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Naieli Schiefelbein Souto, Micheli Dassi, Ana Cláudia Monteiro Braga, Érica Vanessa Furlan Rosa, Michele Rechia Fighera, Luiz Fernando Freire Royes, Mauro Schneider Oliveira, Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari, Ana Flávia Furian
Whole foods are rich in fiber, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins these nutrients can serve as substrates for microorganism proliferation, especially fungi (Orina et al. 2017, Peters et al. 2017, Sadhasivam et al. 2017). Some species of fungi produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Importantly, mycotoxins contaminate around 75% of all cereals produced in the world (Lee and Ryu 2017). AFB1 is the most toxic and prevalent mycotoxin, which is classified in group 1 of carcinogenicity (Stoev 2015, Ostry et al. 2017, Singh and Chuturgoon 2017). AFB1 has been shown to affect several organs and tissues. However, the liver is its target organ, since it has been shown to cause hepatocellular carcinoma (Williams et al. 2004, Liu and Wu 2010, Wogan et al. 2012, Rushing and Selim 2019). Of note, AFB1 is stable and can resist thermal processes, being present in roasted nuts and cooked products, as well as other foods (Marin et al. 2013).
Ochratoxin a in breast milk in Morocco: the affecting dietary habits of the lactating mothers and the degree of exposure of newborns “CONTAMILK study”
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Abha Cherkani-Hassani, Imane Ghanname, Abdellah Zinedine, Hassan Sefrioui, Zineb Qmichou, Nezha Mouane
Ochratoxin A (OTA) a is a mycotoxin produced specially by Penicillium verrucosum in temperate or cold climates and by a number of species of Aspergillus genus in warmer and tropical parts of the world (Pitt 1987). This mycotoxin is frequently found in animal feed and human food, such as, cereals, beans, dried fruits, cacao, coffee, spices, wine, beer, etc. (Araguás et al.2005, Nguyen et al.2007, Pfohl-Leszkowicz et al.2004, Speijers and Van Egmond 1993). OTA has been shown to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic and immunotoxic to several species of animals and to cause kidney and liver tumors in mice and rats (Tao et al.2018) and it is classified by the IARC “International Agency for research in cancer” in Group 2B as “ possibly carcinogenic for humans” (IARC 1993).
Evaluation of citrinin-induced toxic effects on mouse Sertoli cells
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2021
Yasemin Aydin, Banu Orta Yilmaz, Nebahat Yildizbayrak, Ahu Korkut, Merve Arabul Kursun, Tulay Irez, Melike Erkan
To date, more than 300 types of mycotoxins have been defined and the number of studies on these mycotoxins, which can cause detrimental effects on human health, have increased. Agricultural products can be contaminated by molds pre- and post-harvest during storing or processing. Humans may be exposed to mycotoxins through contaminated foods of plant origin, in the products of animals fed by contaminated feed, and through air and dermal contact (Richard et al.2003). Mycotoxins also indirectly lead to economic losses: it is impossible to sell contaminated grains, as due to fungal toxicity, they can cause serious health problems in animals. In addition to their carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects, mycotoxins may exhibit various toxic effects such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immune system disorders, as well as increased propensity for other diseases and reproduction dysfunctions (Frank 1992, Tunail 2000, Magan and Olsen 2004, Sabuncuoğlu et al.2008). CTN also adversely affects the male reproduction system and reproductive functions. In a previous study conducted on animals, CTN increased the weight of the testes and the auxiliary reproduction organs and decreased the number of viable sperms. Furthermore, this study indicated that CTN decreased the production of testosterone in Leydig cells and these effects could result in reduced fertility (Qingqing et al.2012). There are limited studies related CTN toxicity on male reproductive system. Thus, effects of CTN have been investigated in TM4 Sertoli cells as a model, in the present study.
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