Types of Mycotoxins and different approaches used for their detection in foodstuffs

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic complexes generated by various genera of filamentous fungi and pose severe public health hazards due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Toxigenic fungi produce mycotoxins on various foodstuffs when favorable conditions for their production are exist. The most important mycotoxinproducing fungal genera are Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. The major mycotoxin of concern, including aflatoxins, trichothecenes, ochratoxins, patulin, fumonisins, and zearalenone, are expressively contaminate foodstuffs, with implications for human and animal health. There are various environmental factors influencing mycotoxin production involving temperature, water activity, animal type, aeration, pH, light, and nature of substrate. The temperature and relative moistness range for ideal mycotoxin generation may shift from that steady fungal development. The high temperature and moistness stress primarily have a potential issue. A full understanding of the existence of mycotoxins in addition the implementation measures to overcome their contamination of foodstuffs is crucial. There are different important analytical techniques to precisely screen the levels of mycotoxins contamination and give a wider overview about what is the most common, pathogenic; along with further strategies to control measures. Thus, in this review sampling, sample preparation and different analytical methods for determination of mycotoxins have been discussed.

Evaluation of ELISA and immunoaffinity fluorometric analytical tools of four mycotoxins in various food categories

“…For lots weighing more than 50 tons, we took 100 incremental samples from the sub-lots to get an aggregate sample weighing 10 kg; but, for lots weighing less than 50 tons, we only took 3 to 10 incremental samples, depending on the lot weight, to produce an aggregate sample weighing 1 to 10 kg (Rahmani et al 2009 ). To establish homogeneity, samples were transferred to the laboratory and then crushed (by means of sanitized food cutters) and mixed carefully by a horizontal shaker (Benchmark Scientific, Orbi Shaker, Edison, USA) to be prepared for subsequent analysis (Elkenany and Awad 2020 ).…”

“…On the other hand, ZEN is considered an estrogenic mycotoxin. In many animal species, particularly swine, cattle, and sheep, higher levels of ZEN intake (ZEN toxicosis) lead to increased estrogenic activity and cause disrupted conception, miscarriage, and other reproductive difficulties like infertility, vulval edema and the feminization of male animals (Elkenany and Awad 2020 ). Alternatively, DON is a vomitoxin that causes vomiting, nausea, digestive issues, oxidative damage, and reproductive toxicity in both animals and humans although it is not a human carcinogen (Ji et al 2019 ).…”

Current Insights in Fungal Importance—A Comprehensive Review

“…Although mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of different fungal strains, they do not intervene in fungal growth but rather act as a defensive mechanism against other organisms and as a strategy to maintain the oxidative status of the fungal cell [ 296 ]. In general, there are six types of mycotoxins considered most dangerous for human health: aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecene, patulin, fumonisins, and zearalenone [ 297 , 298 , 299 ].…”

Survey of knowledge, and attitudes to storage practices preempting the occurrence of filamentous fungi and mycotoxins in some Ghanaian staple foods and processed products

“…However, fungal toxins continue to take a toll on the health of the populace. It is presumed that the lack of knowledge of the conditions which predispose food to fungal intoxication is not well understood by both the farmers and the populace although the phenomenon has been demonstrated by scientists in the pertinent literature 9 .…”

“…Fumonisins have been shown to occur in barley, wheat, sorghum, rice, millet and corn products 29 . The most common syndromes associated with fumonisins are leucoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary oedema and hydrothorax in pigs, and hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity and oesophageal cancer in humans 9 , 30 .…”