Simultaneous occurrence of fumonisin B1 and other mycotoxins in moldy corn collected from the People's Republic of China in regions with high incidences of esophageal cancer

Abstract

A total of 31 corn samples collected from households in the counties of Cixian and Linxian of the People's Republic of China, where high incidences of esophageal cancer have been reported, were analyzed for fumonisin B1 (FB1), aflatoxin, and total trichothecene mycotoxins. High levels of FB, (18 to 155 ppm; mean, 74 ppm) were found in 16 of the samples that showed heavy mold contamination. FB,, at lower levels (20 to 60 ppm; mean, 35.3 ppm), was also found in 15 samples, collected from the same households, that did not show any visible mold contamination. The levels of aflatoxin in the samples were low (1 to 38.4 ppb; mean, 8.61 ppb). High levels of total type-A trichothecenes were also found in the moldy corn samples (139 to 2,030 ppb; mean, 627 ppb). Immunochromatography of selected samples revealed that these samples contained T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, iso-neosolaniol, monoacetoxyscirpenol, and several other type-A trichothecenes. The concentration of total type-B trichothecenes in 15 moldy corn samples was in the range of 470 to 5,826 ppb (mean, 2,359 ppb). High levels (3.7 to 5.0 mg/g) of FBI were produced in corn in the laboratory by five Fusarium moniliforme strains isolated from the moldy corn. These fungi were also capable of forming various nitrosamines (5 to 16 ,ug per flask) in the presence of nitrate and precursor amines. The present data indicate that the presence of high levels of FB1 (a cancer promoter) and other mycotoxins in the moldy corn samples and the capability of producing nitrosamines (carcinogens) by F. moniliforme may play an important role in carcinogenesis in humans in Cixian and Linxian counties.

Reduction of Moniliformin During Alkaline Cooking of Corn

“…Among the Fusarium species identified, F. verticillioides (formerly known as F. moniliforme) and F. proliferatum were more common contaminants than F. subglutinans in the corn. Previous reports also indicate these two Fusarium species are common pathogens and endophytes in corn around the world (Chu and Li 1994;Miller 1995;Marin et al 1996;Kosiak et al 1997). Although F. verticillioides was more common in some samples tested in this study, this species is not known to produce MON.…”

Mould incidence and mycotoxin contamination in freshly harvested maize kernels originated from India

“…8 FB1 has also been associated with an increased risk of human oesophageal cancer. 9 Liver cancer due to aflatoxicosis has been reported among the human population in India, Thailand, the Philippines and several African and European countries. 10 Over the past two decades, mycotoxicosis has been observed in both humans and animals.…”

Molecular Identification, Mycotoxin Production and Comparative Pathogenicity of Fusarium temperatum Isolated from Maize in China

“…Fusarium pathogens not only reduce yield and quality of crops, but also produce a variety of potent mycotoxins, such as fumonisins (mainly FB 1 and FB 2 ), zearalenone and trichothecenes (Nelson et al 1992;Sampietro et al 2011). Fumonisins can cause leukoencephalomalacia in horses (Kellerman et al 1990;Segvic and Pepeljnjak 2001) and pulmonary oedema syndrome in pigs (Harrison et al 1990;Segvic and Pepeljnjak 2001) and have been associated epidemiologically with oesophageal cancer in humans (Sydenham et al 1990;Chu and Liu 1994;Peraica et al 1999). The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified them as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) (Yazar and Omurtag 2008).…”