Mycotoxin Research最新文献

A viable strategy for addressing the aflatoxin issue using two enterosorbents prepared from marigold petals and guava leaves was validated. The enterosorbents were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to obtain information about the surface functional groups, microstructure, multi-elemental composition, degree of crystallinity, and phase analysis. The potential of the enterosorbents in decreasing aflatoxin uptake and bioavailability under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (including the replication of chemical and enzymatic factors) was estimated using the isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich. Under the simulated gastric and intestinal conditions, marigold removed almost all the mycotoxin at doses of 0.25 and 0.125% (w/w); however, guava leaves efficiently adsorbed the toxin when using doses up to 0.5 and 0.25% (w/w), respectively. Equilibrium adsorption data followed preferentially the Freundlich model, the values of the Freundlich constant (K_F) for marigold were 37.3 and 7.1 times higher than those of guava leaves, respectively. Additionally, the n value was > 1, indicative that adsorption was mainly dominated by physical mechanisms. Overall, this research provides insights into the practical application of natural enterosorbents offering a promising approach for AFB₁ removal.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a stable and highly toxic toxin that causes multi-organ toxicity with sustained ingestion, most typically in the duck liver. Previous research has shown that AFB1 can bring about endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in animals, and ERS is strongly associated with lipid metabolism. However, the relationship between AFB1-induced duck liver toxicity and ERS and lipid metabolism is currently unclear. Great attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of AFB1 because of its great harm. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, is notable for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Studies have shown curcumin to be protective against afb1-induced avian multi-organ toxicity. However, the effects of curcumin on the liver of ducks exposed to AFB1 are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether AFB1 exposure induces ERS and lipid metabolism disorders in duck liver, while exploring the positive role of curcumin in it. One-day-old ducks (n = 80) were randomly divided in four groups: control group, AFB1 group (0.1 mg / kg.bw AFB1), Cur group (400 mg/kg curcumin), and AFB1 + Cur group (0.1 mg/kg.bw AFB1 + 400 mg/kg curcumin), and blood and liver were collected for the study after 21 days of continuous administration. Our research has found that AFB1 exposure significantly increases the levels of liver function indicators ALP, AST, and ALT in ducks' serum (P < 0.05). Duck liver undergoes fatty degeneration under the influence of AFB1. Under the effect of curcumin, AFB1-induced structural damage in duck liver was somewhat controlled. Further experimental results showed that AFB1 treatment significantly increased the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (P < 0.001), and activated the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. Meanwhile, AFB1 inhibited the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway and disrupted lipid metabolic homeostasis. And curcumin treatment effectively reversed these changes. Overall, our results suggest that curcumin attenuates AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity in ducks by inhibiting ERS and lipid metabolism disorders.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) are the most prevalent mycotoxins in production, posing a serious threat to human and animal health. Therefore, it is very urgent to find a safe and efficient method for the biodegradation of these mycotoxins. Our previous study demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis ZJ-2019-1 moderately degrades both mycotoxins in vitro and ZEN in female gilts. In this study, we assessed the effect of B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 on AFB1 and ZEN degradation in naturally moldy corn gluten meal in a gastrointestinal environment while also evaluating the cytotoxicity of degradation products using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The efficacy of B. subtilis in degrading mycotoxins was further evaluated by orally administering 5 mg/kg AFB1 and 50 mg/kg ZEN to mice, followed by treatment with B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 for 15 d. The results showed that B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 moderately degraded both AFB1 and ZEN present in naturally moldy corn gluten meal in simulated small intestinal fluids, with degradation rates reaching 14.71% for AFB1 and 19.53% for ZEN respectively. Following degradation by B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1, the toxicity of resulting products from both AFB1 and ZEN decreased by 11.68-46.41% and 42.62-59.25%, respectively. Moreover, oral administration of B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 exhibited remarkable detoxification effects on AFB1 and ZEN in mice, as evidenced by significant restoration of abnormal serum biochemical indices (including aspartate aminotransferase/alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, etc.) and alleviation of liver, intestine, and uterine damage caused by mycotoxins in mice. These findings indicate that B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 possesses the ability to moderately degrade both AFB1 and ZEN, making it a promising candidate for biodegrading multi-mycotoxin contaminants in food and feed.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by certain molds, especially Aspergillus species, which are commonly found in nature. These toxins can contaminate animal feed and lead to aflatoxicosis in various livestock species. It has been proposed that using bentonite could help alleviate the symptoms of aflatoxicosis. Recent research, however, has highlighted the importance of the activation process in enhancing bentonite's inhibitory activity against aflatoxicosis. To further investigate this, 40 mice were randomly divided into four dietary groups: a control diet, an aflatoxins-contaminated diet (2 mg/kg), an aflatoxins-contaminated diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg diet and inactive bentonite (5 g/kg diet), and an aflatoxins-contaminated diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg diet and activated bentonite (5 g/kg diet) for 4 weeks. The results demonstrated that bentonite activation improved its specific surface area and total pore volume. Additionally, aflatoxins significantly negatively impacted various parameters such as average daily weight gain, food intake, liver enzymes, serum redox potential, morphometric characteristics of the jejunum, and induced hepatic inflammation. The study found that the dietary addition of both non-activated and activated bentonite significantly improved these parameters. However, activated bentonite displayed greater potency in alleviating the symptoms of aflatoxicosis compared to non-activated bentonite. As a result, it is recommended to use activated bentonite when dealing with aflatoxin contamination in animal diets.

This study evaluated aqueous Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract in drinking water as a mitigation strategy against Aflatoxin B1-induced toxicity in broilers, focusing on performance, haematology, serum biochemistry, pro-inflammatory cytokines, cellular stress markers, and liver histology. Two hundred and forty (240) day-old chicks (mixed sex), of the Cobb 500 breed were divided into four groups: control (CONT), AFB1-exposed (AFLB1), and two treatment groups (VE1AF and VE2AF) receiving 0.5 mg/kg AFB1 and Vernonia amygdalina aqueous extract at 1 g/L and 2 g/L, respectively. At 42 days, VE1AF and VE2AF chickens showed higher (P < 0.05) final weights and weight gains than CONT and AFLB1 groups. The red blood cells, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, and white blood cell counts were higher (P < 0.05) in CONT, VE1AF, and VE2AF groups compared to AFLB1. Mean cell volume, and mean cell haemaoglobin were higher (P < 0.05) in AFLB1 and VE2AF. Serum analysis revealed lower (P < 0.05) total protein, globulin, and albumin in AFLB1, which were restored by the extract. The tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and interferon-γ, were elevated (P < 0.05) in AFLB1 but reduced in VE1AF and VE2AF. The heat shock protein 70, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and adiponectin levels were higher (P < 0.05) in AFLB1, but were normalized by the extract in VE1AF and VE2AF. Leptin and triiodothyronine levels were significantly (P < 0.05) better in VE1AF and VE2AF, compared to AFLB1. Liver histology showed reduced inflammation in VE1AF and VE2AF, with near-normal hepatic architecture. In conclusion, Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract effectively counteracts AFB1 toxicity, enhancing overall health and performance in broiler chickens.

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) are poisons that contaminate poorly stored staple foods in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB₁ and FB₁ exposure may cause anaemia. We aimed to determine the associations of urinary aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) and FB₁, biomarkers of AFB₁ and FB₁ exposure, respectively, with erythrocyte parameters and anaemia. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 68 HIV-infected and 61 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥ 20 weeks gestational age in Harare, Zimbabwe. AFM₁ and FB₁ were measured in urine via competitive ELISA, and levels were grouped into tertiles. The erythrocyte parameters assessed were haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), and red blood cell distribution width. Associations of urinary AFM₁ and FB₁ with erythrocyte parameters, and anaemia were assessed in a multiple regression controlled for potential confounders. The presence of FB₁ in urine decreased Hb levels in all women (β= -0.98, 95% CI: -1.94, 0.02) and HIV-uninfected (β= -1.99, 95% CI: -3.71, -0.26). FB₁ tertile 3 decreased Hb levels (β= -0.88, 95% CI: -1.74, 0.01) and HCT levels (β= -2.65, 95% CI: -5.26, 0.03) in HIV-infected. AFM₁ tertile 2 decreased RBC levels in HIV-infected (β= -0.34, 95% CI: -0.71, -0.03). The presence of FB₁ in urine increased anaemia risk in HIV-uninfected (OR: 10.68 95% CI: 1.02, 112.34). AFM₁ tertile 2 increased macrocytic anaemia risk in HIV-infected (OR: 13.72, 95% CI: 0.92, 203.55). There is need to ensure food safety through monitoring and nutritional interventions to improve maternal-infant health outcomes.

This study examined the effects of fumonisins (FBs) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), alone or in combination, on the productivity and health of laying hens, as well as the transfer of aflatoxins (AFs) to chicken food products. The efficacy and safety of mycotoxin detoxifiers (bentonite and fumonisin esterase) to mitigate these effects were also assessed. Laying hens (400) were divided into 20 groups and fed a control, moderate (54.6 µg/kg feed) or high (546 µg/kg feed) AFB1 or FBs (7.9 mg/kg feed) added diets, either alone or in combination, with the mycotoxin detoxifiers added in selected diets. Productivity was evaluated by feed intake, egg weight, egg production, and feed conversion ratio whereas health was assessed by organ weights, blood biochemistry, and mortality. Aflatoxins residues in plasma, liver, muscle, and eggs were determined using UHPLC-MS/MS methods. A diet with AFB1 at a concentration of 546 µg/kg feed decreased egg production and various AFB1-contaminated diets increased serum uric acid levels and weights of liver, spleen, heart, and gizzard. Interactions between AFB1 and FBs significantly impacted spleen, heart, and gizzard weights as well as AFB1 residues in eggs. Maximum AFB1 residues of 0.64 µg/kg and aflatoxin M1 (below limits of quantification) were observed in liver, plasma, and eggs of layers fed diets with AFB1. The mycotoxin detoxifiers reduced effects of AFB1 and FBs on egg production, organ weights, blood biochemistry, and AFB1 residues in tissues. This study highlights the importance of mycotoxin detoxifiers as a mitigation strategy against mycotoxins in poultry production.

Aflatoxin contamination of corn can occur when developing kernels are infected by the plant pathogen Aspergillus flavus. One route of infection is from airborne conidia. We executed a series of experiments within the corn canopy during two growing seasons and in two states to document the abundance and dynamics of the airborne A. flavus population. We did not observe any significant diurnal changes in the conidial density (p = 0.171) or any effect of sampler height (p = 0.882) within the canopy. Significant changes (p < 0.001) were noted during the season, with a trend towards increased airborne populations with later stages of corn development and more than a 20-fold increase from July to August. The median aflatoxigenicity of airborne isolates from a corn canopy in Texas was about 50 times higher than the corresponding population in Mississippi. It was also noteworthy that highly aflatoxigenic, weakly sporulating S-morphotypes accounted for 14-30% of the airborne isolates in Mississippi at a site with historically rare abundance of S-morphotypes. The genetic diversity was high among the 140 analyzed airborne isolates, with 76 unique haplotypes identified and 55 haplotypes occurring only in 1 isolate. Even in the context of this highly diverse population, a haplotype matching that of a commercial biocontrol strain was found in 13 of the 70 isolates from Mississippi and 1 of the 70 isolates from Texas. The airborne A. flavus population is genetically diverse (Shannon's index = 1.4 to 1.6), similar to grain samples in other surveys, and much less aflatoxigenic in Mississippi than in Texas.

Mycotoxin exposure from contaminated food is a significant global health issue, particularly among vulnerable children. Given limited data on mycotoxin exposure among Namibian children, this study investigated mycotoxin types and levels in foods, evaluated dietary mycotoxin exposure from processed cereal foods in children under age five from rural households in Oshana region, Namibia. Mycotoxins in cereal-based food samples (n = 162) (mahangu flour (n = 35), sorghum flour (n = 13), mahangu thin/thick porridge (n = 54), oshikundu (n = 56), and omungome (n = 4)) were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁, 35.8%), zearalenone (27.2%), fumonisin B₁ (FB₁, 24.1%), citrinin (CIT, 12.4%) and deoxynivalenol (10.5%) were the major mycotoxins quantified. Food samples (35.8% (n = 58) and 6.2% (n = 10)) exceeded the 0.1 µg/kg AFB₁ and 200 µg/kg FB₁ EU limit for children's food, respectively. Several emerging mycotoxins including the neurotoxic 3-nitropropionic acid, moniliformin (MON), and tenuazonic acid were quantified in over 50% of all samples. Co-occurrence of AFB₁, CIT, and FB₁ detected in 4.9% (n = 8) samples, which could heighten food safety concerns. Regarding exposure assessment and risk characterization, average probable dietary intake for AFB₁ from all ready-to-eat-foods was 0.036 µg/kg bw/day, which resulted in margin of exposures (MOE) of 11 and 0.65 risk cancer cases/year/100,000 people, indicating a risk of chronic aflatoxicosis. High tolerable daily intake values for FB₁, and MOE for beauvericin and MON exceeded reference values. Consumption of a diversified diet and interventions including timely planting and harvesting, best grain storage, and other standard postharvest food handling practices are needed to mitigate mycotoxin exposure through contaminated cereal foods and to safeguard the health of the rural children in Namibia.

To date, there are more than 80 ergot alkaloids identified; their distribution depends on different factors (e.g. geographic regions, host plants). These toxins can cause acute and chronic toxic effects on human health and commonly infect cereal crops such as triticale and rye, wheat, barley and oats. Considering the growing consumption of plant-based foods, the European Food Safety Authority has highlighted the need to develop risk assessment strategies. This work focused on the optimization of extraction efficiency, to quantify the main ergot alkaloids and their epimers, that are available on the market without any legal restriction (ergosine, ergocristine, ergocriptyne, ergocornine, ergosinine, ergocristinine, ergocriptinine and ergocorninine). Considering the quantification of 8 out of 12 regulated compounds by EU (sum of -ine and -inine forms), this approach can be defined as a screening method for a reliable estimation of the risk, specifically devoted to industrial stakeholders that can then possibly outsource to authorized external labs only the samples suspected of significant positivity. The effectiveness of three different extraction conditions (acidic, alkaline and neutral) followed by a rapid clean-up using dispersive solid-phase extraction with C₁₈ sorbent was evaluated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), resulting in a short chromatographic run (16 min). The method was developed and validated in five different cereal production chains (rye, oat, wheat, wheat gluten and baby food). The applicability of the method was examined by analyzing a set of 54 samples, including also other cereals like spelt, tritordeum and triticale, and evaluating also some reference materials.