Submit to Toxins Review for Toxins Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Mycotoxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2019) | Viewed by 50740

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases book cover image

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Susana Viegas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Assistant Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health, NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: environmental health; occupational toxicology; exposure and risk assessment; mixtures; biomonitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ricardo Assunção

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Food and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, PortugalCESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: food toxicology; mycotoxins; chemical mixtures; risk assessment and risk–benefit assessment of foods; interaction between foods/diets and human health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are considered the most frequently occurring natural food contaminants in human and animal diets. Considering their potential toxic and carcinogenic effects, mycotoxin exposure assessment assumes particular importance in the context of health risk assessment. The magnitude of a given exposure will allow to derive the associated risk and the potential to the establishment of a disease. Although food ingestion is considered a major route of human exposure to mycotoxins, other contexts can also imply exposure, such as specific occupational environments where exposure to organic dust also occurs due to the handling of organic materials. Animals could also be exposed to mycotoxins, through consumption of contaminated feed, subsequently entering in the food chain and thus constituting a source of exposure to humans.

All these exposure scenarios constitute an overall internal body burden of mycotoxins in humans. Human biomonitoring is considered a quite new frontier for the establishment of the real human internal exposure to mycotoxins. Combined with toxicological and epidemiological data, human biomonitoring data relate to exposure and disease.

Although several studies have summarized the potential outcomes associated with mycotoxin exposure, there are still major gaps in data that allow to recognize that mycotoxins are the cause of diseases. Aside from aflatoxin B1, the most potent natural carcinogen known, and whose link with morbidity/mortality of both animals and humans has already been made, for other mycotoxins there are still several question marks. Moreover, the potential exposure to mycotoxin mixtures that may exhibit interactive activity and/or exert some biological function converging in the same molecular pathways still needs to be considered in the exposure and risk assessment and in the regulatory landscape.

We look forward to receiving your contributions for this Special Issue, in the form of original research or review papers which will shed light into the different perspectives of mycotoxin exposure and their implications for the establishment of a disease. No specific restrictions for particular mycotoxins are established.

Prof. Dr. Susana Viegas
Dr. Ricardo Assunção
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Mycotoxins
Risk assessment
Human biomonitoring
Mycotoxin mixtures
Food and feed
Occupational exposure
Health impact
Toxic effects

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers

Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 222 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases

by Ricardo Assunção and Susana Viegas

Toxins 2020, 12(3), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12030172 - 11 Mar 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

Mycotoxins are considered the most frequently occurring natural contaminants in the diet of humans and animals [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Consumption Data as a Tool to Estimate Exposure to Mycoestrogens

by Carla Martins, Duarte Torres, Carla Lopes, Daniela Correia, Ana Goios, Ricardo Assunção, Paula Alvito, Arnau Vidal, Marthe De Boevre, Sarah De Saeger and Carla Nunes

Toxins 2020, 12(2), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12020118 - 13 Feb 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2879

Abstract

Zearalenone and alternariol are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium and Alternaria species, respectively, that present estrogenic activity and consequently are classified as endocrine disruptors. To estimate the exposure of the Portuguese population to these two mycotoxins at a national level, a modelling approach, based on data from 94 Portuguese volunteers, was developed considering as inputs: i) the food consumption data generated within the National Food and Physical Activity Survey; and ii) the human biomonitoring data used to assess the exposure to the referred mycotoxins. Six models of association between mycoestrogens urinary levels (zearalenone, total zearalenone and alternariol) and food items (meat, cheese, and fresh-cheese, breakfast cereals, sweets) were established. Applying the obtained models to the consumption data (n = 5811) of the general population, the median estimates of the probable daily intake revealed that a fraction of the Portuguese population might exceed the tolerable daily intake defined for zearalenone. A reference intake value for alternariol is still lacking, thus the characterization of risk due to the exposure to this mycotoxin was not possible to perform. Although the unavoidable uncertainties, these results are important contributions to understand the exposure to endocrine disruptors in Portugal and the potential Public Health consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

19 pages, 2734 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Efficiency of Yeast Cell Wall Extract to Adsorb Ochratoxin A and Mitigate Accumulation of the Toxin in Broiler Chickens

by Suvi Vartiainen, Alexandros Yiannikouris, Juha Apajalahti and Colm A. Moran

Toxins 2020, 12(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12010037 - 07 Jan 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3843

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin contaminant in animal feed. When absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, OTA has a propensity for pathological effects on animal health and deposition in animal tissues. In this study, the potential of yeast cell wall extracts (YCWE) to adsorb OTA was evaluated using an in vitro method in which consecutive animal digestion events were simulated. Low pH markedly increased OTA binding to YCWE, which was reversed with a pH increased to 6.5. Overall, in vitro analysis revealed that 30% of OTA was adsorbed to YCWE. Additional computational molecular modelling revealed that change in pH alters the OTA charge and modulates the interaction with the YCWE β-d-glucans. The effectiveness of YCWE was tested in a 14-day broiler chicken trial. Birds were subjected to five dietary treatments; with and without OTA, and OTA combined with YCWE at three dosages. At the end of the trial, liver OTA deposition was evaluated. Data showed a decrease of up to 30% in OTA deposits in the liver of broilers fed both OTA and YCWE. In the case of OTA, a tight correlation between the mitigation efficacy of YCWE between in vitro and in vivo model could be observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cytotoxic Properties of HT-2 Toxin in Human Chondrocytes: Could T₃ Inhibit Toxicity of HT-2?

by Feng’e Zhang, Mikko Juhani Lammi, Wanzhen Shao, Pan Zhang, Yanan Zhang, Haiyan Wei and Xiong Guo

Toxins 2019, 11(11), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11110667 - 15 Nov 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2676

Abstract

Thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T₃) plays an important role in coordinated endochondral ossification and hypertrophic differentiation of the growth plate, while aberrant thyroid hormone function appears to be related to skeletal malformations, osteoarthritis, and Kashin-Beck disease. The T-2 toxin, present extensively in cereal grains, and one of its main metabolites, HT-2 toxin, are hypothesized to be potential factors associated with hypertrophic chondrocyte-related osteochondropathy, known as the Kashin-Beck disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of T₃ and HT-2 toxin on human chondrocytes. The immortalized human chondrocyte cell line, C-28/I2, was cultured in four different groups: controls, and cultures with T₃, T₃ plus HT-2 and HT-2 alone. Cytotoxicity was assessed using an MTT assay after 24-h-exposure. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect gene expression levels of collagen types II and X, aggrecan and runx2, and the differences in runx2 were confirmed with immunoblot analysis. T₃ was only slightly cytotoxic, in contrast to the significant, dose-dependent cytotoxicity of HT-2 alone at concentrations ≥ 50 nM. T₃, together with HT-2, significantly rescued the cytotoxic effect of HT-2. HT-2 induced significant increases in aggrecan and runx2 gene expression, while the hypertrophic differentiation marker, type X collagen, remained unchanged. Thus, T₃ protected against HT-2 induced cytotoxicity, and HT-2 was an inducer of the pre-hypertrophic state of the chondrocytes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porcine Hepatic Response to Fumonisin B₁ in a Short Exposure Period: Fatty Acid Profile and Clinical Investigations

by Omeralfaroug Ali, Judit Szabó-Fodor, Hedvig Fébel, Miklós Mézes, Krisztián Balogh, Róbert Glávits, Melinda Kovács, Arianna Zantomasi and András Szabó

Toxins 2019, 11(11), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11110655 - 10 Nov 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

Scarce studies have investigated the impact of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) on the hepatic tissue fatty acid (FA) profile, and no study is available on piglets. A 10-day in vivo experiment was performed on seven piglets/group: control and FB₁-fed animals (diet was contaminated with fungal culture: 20 mg FB₁/kg diet). Independent sample t-test was carried out at p < 0.05 as the significance level. Neither growth, nor feed efficiency, was affected. The hepatic phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FAs) were more susceptible for FB₁, while triglyceride (TG) was less responsive. The impact of FB₁ on hepatic PL polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was more pronounced than on saturated fatty acids. Among all PUFAs, predominant ones in response were docosapentaenoicacid (DPA) (↓), docosahexaenoic DHA (↓) and arachidonic acids (↑). This led to a higher omega-6:omega-3 ratio, whereas a similar finding was noted in TGs. Neither total saturation (SFA) nor total monousaturation (MUFA) were affected by the FB₁ administration. The liver showed an increase in malondialdehyde, as well as antioxidant capacity (reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase). The plasma enzymatic assessment revealed an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were not influenced. The microscopic sections provided evidence of vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes’ cytoplasm, but it was not severe. Furthermore, the lung edema was developed, while the kidney was not affected. In conclusion, regarding FB₁-mediated hepatotoxicity in piglets, the potential effect of slight hepatotoxicity did not compromise growth performance, at least at the dose and exposure period applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Total Dietary Intake and Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Aflatoxin B₁, Ochratoxin A and Fuminisins of Children in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

by Bui Thi Mai Huong, Le Danh Tuyen, Henry Madsen, Leon Brimer, Henrik Friis and Anders Dalsgaard

Toxins 2019, 11(11), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11110638 - 02 Nov 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3626

Abstract

The health burden of foodborne mycotoxins is considerable, but particularly for children due to their lower detoxification capacity, rapid growth and high intake of food in proportion to their weight. Through a Total Dietary Study approach, the objective was to estimate the dietary exposure and health risk caused by mycotoxins for children under 5 years living in the Lao Cai province in northern Vietnam. A total of 40 composite food samples representing 1008 individual food samples were processed and analyzed by ELISA for aflatoxin B₁, ochratoxin A and fumonisins. Results showed that dietary exposure to aflatoxin B₁, ochratoxin A and total fumonisins were 118.7 ng/kgbw/day, 52.6 ng/kg bw/day and 1250.0 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Using a prevalence of hepatitis of 1%, the risk of liver cancer related to exposure of aflatoxin B₁ was 12.1 cases/100,000 individual/year. Age-adjusted margin of exposure (MOE) of renal cancer associated with ochratoxin A was 127, while MOE of liver cancer associated with fumonisins was 542. Antropometric data show that 50.4% (60/119) of children were stunted, i.e. height/length for age z-scores (HAZ) below –2, and 3.4% (4/119) of children were classified as wasted, i.e. weight for height z-scores (WHZ) below –2. A significant negative relationship between dietary exposure to individual or mixture of mycotoxins and growth of children was observed indicating that the high mycotoxin intake contributed to stunning in the children studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AFM1 Detection in Milk by Fab’ Functionalized Si₃N₄ Asymmetric Mach–Zehnder Interferometric Biosensors

by Tatevik Chalyan, Cristina Potrich, Erik Schreuder, Floris Falke, Laura Pasquardini, Cecilia Pederzolli, Rene Heideman and Lorenzo Pavesi

Toxins 2019, 11(7), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070409 - 14 Jul 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4373

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AF) are naturally occurring mycotoxins, produced by many species of Aspergillus. Among aflatoxins, Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is one of the most frequent and dangerous for human health. The acceptable maximum level of AFM1 in milk according to EU regulation is 50 ppt, [...] Read more.

_{3}

_{4}

asymmetric Mach–Zehnder Interferometers (aMZI) functionalized with Fab’ for AFM1 detection in milk samples (eluates). The minimum concentration of AFM1 detected by our aMZI sensors is 48 pM (16.8 pg/mL) in purified and concentrated milk samples. Moreover, the real-time detection of the ligand-analyte binding enables the study of the kinetics of the reaction. We measured the kinetic rate constants of the Fab’-AFM1 interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 2193 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mycotoxins at the Start of the Food Chain in Costa Rica: Analysis of Six Fusarium Toxins and Ochratoxin A between 2013 and 2017 in Animal Feed and Aflatoxin M₁ in Dairy Products

by Andrea Molina, Guadalupe Chavarría, Margarita Alfaro-Cascante, Astrid Leiva and Fabio Granados-Chinchilla

Toxins 2019, 11(6), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11060312 - 31 May 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4345

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites, produced by fungi of genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium (among others), which produce adverse health effects on humans and animals (carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive). In addition, mycotoxins negatively affect the productive parameters of livestock (e.g., weight, food consumption, and food conversion). Epidemiological studies are considered necessary to assist stakeholders with the process of decision-making regarding the control of mycotoxins in processing environments. This study addressed the prevalence in feed ingredients and compound feed of eight different types of toxins, including metabolites produced by Fusarium spp. (Deoxynivalenol/3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, T-2/HT-2 toxins, zearalenone and fumonisins) and two additional toxins (i.e., ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁)) from different fungal species, for over a period of five years. On the subject of Fusarium toxins, higher prevalences were observed for fumonisins (n = 80/113, 70.8%) and DON (n = 212/363, 58.4%), whereas, for OTA, a prevalence of 40.56% was found (n = 146/360). In the case of raw material, mycotoxin contamination exceeding recommended values were observed in cornmeal for HT-2 toxin (n = 3/24, 12.5%), T-2 toxin (n = 3/61, 4.9%), and ZEA (n = 2/45, 4.4%). In contrast, many compound feed samples exceeded recommended values; in dairy cattle feed toxins such as DON (n = 5/147, 3.4%), ZEA (n = 6/150, 4.0%), T-2 toxin (n = 10/171, 5.9%), and HT-2 toxin (n = 13/132, 9.8%) were observed in high amounts. OTA was the most common compound accompanying Fusarium toxins (i.e., 16.67% of co-occurrence with ZEA). This study also provided epidemiological data for AFM₁ in liquid milk. The outcomes unveiled a high prevalence of contamination (i.e., 29.6–71.1%) and several samples exceeding the regulatory threshold. Statistical analysis exposed no significant climate effect connected to the prevalence of diverse types of mycotoxins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3888 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Time-Dependent Changes in the Intestinal Microbiome of Gilts Exposed to Low Zearalenone Doses

by Katarzyna Cieplińska, Magdalena Gajęcka, Michał Dąbrowski, Anna Rykaczewska, Sylwia Lisieska-Żołnierczyk, Maria Bulińska, Łukasz Zielonka and Maciej T. Gajęcki

Toxins 2019, 11(5), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11050296 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3100

Abstract

Zearalenone is a frequent contaminant of cereals and their by-products in regions with a temperate climate. This toxic molecule is produced naturally by Fusarium fungi in crops. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of low zearalenone doses (LOAEL, NOAEL and MABEL) on the intestinal microbiome of gilts on different days of exposure (days 7, 21 and 42). Intestinal contents were sampled from the duodenal cap, the third part of the duodenum, jejunum, caecum and the descending colon. The experiment was performed on 60 clinically healthy gilts with average BW of 14.5 ± 2 kg, divided into three experimental groups and a control group. Group ZEN5 animals were orally administered ZEN at 5 μg /kg BW, group ZEN10—10 μg ZEN/kg BW and group ZEN15—15 µg ZEN/kg BW. Five gilts from every group were euthanized on analytical dates 1, 2 and 3. Differences in the log values of microbial counts, mainly Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, were observed between the proximal and distal segments of the intestinal tract on different analytical dates as well as in the entire intestinal tract. Zearalenone affected the colony counts of intestinal microbiota rather than microbiome diversity, and its effect was greatest in groups ZEN10 and ZEN15. Microbial colony counts were similar in groups ZEN5 and C. In the analysed mycobiome, ZEN exerted a stimulatory effect on the log values of yeast and mould counts in all intestinal segments, in particular in the colon, and the greatest increase was noted on the first analytical date. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1140 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Novel Modified Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate (HSCAS) Adsorbent Can Effectively Reduce T-2 Toxin-Induced Toxicity in Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Serum Biochemistry, and Small Intestinal Morphology in Chicks

by Jin-Tao Wei, Kun-Tan Wu, Hua Sun, Mahmoud Mohamed Khalil, Jie-Fan Dai, Ying Liu, Qiang Liu, Ni-Ya Zhang, De-Sheng Qi and Lv-Hui Sun

Toxins 2019, 11(4), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11040199 - 02 Apr 2019

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4080

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a modified hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) adsorbent to reduce the toxicity of T-2 toxin in broilers. Ninety-six one-day-old male broilers were randomly allocated into four experimental groups with four replicates of six birds each. The four groups, 1–4, received a basal diet (BD), a BD plus 6.0 mg/kg T-2 toxin, a BD plus 6.0 mg/kg T-2 toxin with 0.05% modified HSCAS adsorbent, and a BD plus 0.05% modified HSCAS adsorbent, respectively, for two weeks. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemistry, and small intestinal histopathology were analyzed. Compared to the control group, dietary supplementation of T-2 toxin decreased (p < 0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, and the feed conversion ratio by 11.4–31.8% during the whole experiment. It also decreased (p < 0.05) the apparent metabolic rates of crude protein, calcium, and total phosphorus by 14.9–16.1%. The alterations induced by T-2 toxin were mitigated (p < 0.05) by the supplementation of the modified HSCAS adsorbent. Meanwhile, dietary modified HSCAS adsorbent supplementation prevented (p < 0.05) increased serum aspartate aminotransferase by T-2 toxin at d 14. It also prevented (p < 0.05) T-2 toxin-induced morphological changes and damage in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broilers. However, dietary supplementation of the modified HSCAS adsorbent alone did not affect (p > 0.05) any of these variables. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the modified HSCAS adsorbent could be used against T-2 toxin-induced toxicity in growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and hepatic and small intestinal injuries in chicks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Occupational Exposure to Mycotoxins in Swine Production: Environmental and Biological Monitoring Approaches

by Susana Viegas, Ricardo Assunção, Carla Martins, Carla Nunes, Bernd Osteresch, Magdalena Twarużek, Robert Kosicki, Jan Grajewski, Edna Ribeiro and Carla Viegas

Toxins 2019, 11(2), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11020078 - 01 Feb 2019

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 5079

Abstract

Swine production workers are exposed simultaneously to multiple contaminants. Occupational exposure to aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) in Portuguese swine production farms has already been reported. However, besides AFB₁, data regarding fungal contamination showed that exposure to other mycotoxins could be expected in this setting. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure to multiple mycotoxins of swine production workers. To provide a broad view on the burden of contamination by mycotoxins and the workers’ exposure, biological (urine) samples from workers (n = 25) and 38 environmental samples (air samples, n = 23; litter samples, n = 5; feed samples, n = 10) were collected. The mycotoxins biomarkers detected in the urine samples of the workers group were the deoxynivalenol-glucuronic acid conjugate (60%), aflatoxin M₁ (16%), enniatin B (4%), citrinin (8%), dihydrocitrinone (12%) and ochratoxin A (80%). Results of the control group followed the same pattern, but in general with a lower number of quantifiable results (<LOQ). Besides air samples, all the other environmental samples collected presented high and diverse contamination, and deoxynivalenol (DON), like in the biomonitoring results, was the most prominent mycotoxin. The results demonstrate that the occupational environment is adding and contributing to the workers’ total exposure to mycotoxins, particularly in the case of DON. This was confirmed by the biomonitoring data and the high contamination found in feed and litter samples. Furthermore, he followed multi-biomarker approach allowed to conclude that workers and general population are exposed to several mycotoxins simultaneously. Moreover, occupational exposure is probably described as being intermittent and with very high concentrations for short durations. This should be reflected in the risk assessment process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

19 pages, 2562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Transcriptome Responses to Aflatoxin B₁ in the Cecal Tonsil of Susceptible and Resistant Turkeys

by Kent M. Reed, Kristelle M. Mendoza and Roger A. Coulombe, Jr.

Toxins 2019, 11(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11010055 - 18 Jan 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5078

Abstract

The nearly-ubiquitous food and feed-borne mycotoxin aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is carcinogenic and mutagenic, posing a food safety threat to humans and animals. One of the most susceptible animal species known and thus a good model for characterizing toxicological pathways, is the domesticated turkey (DT), a condition likely due, at least in part, to deficient hepatic AFB₁-detoxifying alpha-class glutathione S-transferases (GSTAs). Conversely, wild turkeys (Eastern wild, EW) are relatively resistant to the hepatotoxic, hepatocarcinogenic and immunosuppressive effects of AFB₁ owing to functional gene expression and presence of functional hepatic GSTAs. This study was designed to compare the responses in gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract between DT (susceptible phenotype) and EW (resistant phenotype) following dietary AFB₁ challenge (320 ppb for 14 days); specifically in cecal tonsil which functions in both nutrient absorption and gut immunity. RNAseq and gene expression analysis revealed significant differential gene expression in AFB₁-treated animals compared to control-fed domestic and wild birds and in within-treatment comparisons between bird types. Significantly upregulated expression of the primary hepatic AFB₁-activating P450 (CYP1A5) as well as transcriptional changes in tight junction proteins were observed in AFB₁-treated birds. Numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-β and EGF were significantly down regulated by AFB₁ treatment in DT birds and pathway analysis suggested suppression of enteroendocrine cells. Conversely, AFB₁ treatment modified significantly fewer unique genes in EW birds; among these were genes involved in lipid synthesis and metabolism and immune response. This is the first investigation of the effects of AFB₁ on the turkey gastro-intestinal tract. Results suggest that in addition to the hepatic transcriptome, animal resistance to this mycotoxin occurs in organ systems outside the liver, specifically as a refractory gastrointestinal tract. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 2819 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Gut Microbiota Profiling of Aflatoxin B1-Induced Rats Treated with Lactobacillus casei Shirota

by Winnie-Pui-Pui Liew, Sabran Mohd-Redzwan and Leslie Thian Lung Than

Toxins 2019, 11(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11010049 - 17 Jan 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5112

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a ubiquitous carcinogenic food contaminant. Gut microbiota is of vital importance for the host’s health, regrettably, limited studies have reported the effects of xenobiotic toxins towards gut microbiota. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the interactions between AFB1 and the gut microbiota. Besides, an AFB1-binding microorganism, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Lcs) was tested on its ability to ameliorate the changes on gut microbiota induced by AFB1. The fecal contents of three groups of rats included an untreated control group, an AFB1 group, as well as an Lcs + AFB1 group, were analyzed. Using the MiSeq platform, the PCR products of 16S rDNA gene extracted from the feces were subjected to next-generation sequencing. The alpha diversity index (Shannon) showed that the richness of communities increased significantly in the Lcs + AFB1 group compared to the control and AFB1 groups. Meanwhile, beta diversity indices demonstrated that AFB1 group significantly deviated from the control and Lcs + AFB1 groups. AFB1-exposed rats were especially high in Alloprevotella spp. abundance. Such alteration in the bacterial composition might give an insight on the interactions of AFB1 towards gut microbiota and how Lcs plays its role in detoxification of AFB1. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Mycotoxin Exposure and Related Diseases

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (13 papers)

Editorial

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI