https://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Williams_Aflatoxicosis_AJCN_2004.pdf

Human aflatoxicosis in developing countries: a review of toxicology, exposure, potential health consequences, and interventions

Toxicity, metabolism, and impact of mycotoxins on humans and animals.

Risk assessment of the mycotoxin zearalenone.

Mycotoxin detoxication of animal feed by different adsorbents.

SUMMARY
Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogen of crops. It is important because it produces aflatoxin as a secondary metabolite in the seeds of a number of crops both before and after harvest. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen that is highly regulated in most countries. In the field, aflatoxin is associated with drought-stressed oilseed crops including maize, peanut, cottonseed and tree nuts. Under the right conditions, the fungus will grow and produce aflatoxin in almost any stored crop seed. In storage, aflatoxin can be controlled by maintaining available moisture at levels below that which will support growth of A. flavus. A number of field control measures are being utilized or explored, including: modification of cultural practices; development of resistant crops through molecular and proteomic techniques; competitive exclusion using strains that do not produce aflatoxin; and development of field treatments that would block aflatoxin production.

Taxonomy: Aspergillus flavus Link (teleomorph unknown) kingdom Fungi, phyllum Ascomycota, order Eurotiales, class Eurotiomycetes, family Trichocomaceae, genus Aspergillus, species flavus.

Host range: Aspergillus flavus has a broad host range as an opportunistic pathogen/saprobe. It is an extremely common soil fungus. The major concern with this fungus in agriculture is that it produces highly carcinogenic toxins called aflatoxins which are a health hazard to animals. In the field, A. flavus is predominantly a problem in the oilseed crops maize, peanuts, cottonseed and tree nuts. Under improper storage conditions, A. flavus is capable of growing and forming aflatoxin in almost any crop seed. It also is a pathogen of animals and insects. In humans it is predominantly an opportunistic pathogen of immunosuppressed patients.

Useful websites: http://www.aspergillusflavus.org, http://www.aflatoxin.info/health.asp, plantpathology.tamu.edu/aflatoxin, http://www.aspergillus.org.uk

Aspergillus flavus: the major producer of aflatoxin

Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate: A High Affinity Sorbent for Aflatoxin

It has been discovered that certain minerals, particularly various naturally occurring forms of aluminum oxide, will preferentially bind selective mycotoxins from a mixture of mycotoxins. These adsorbants, when used in various combinations and/or in conjunction with the adsorbants of the prior art, permit the construction of detector tubes which can resolve mycotoxins in solution and provide a semi-quantitative fluorescent determination of their concentration in feed or foodstuff samples. The detector tubes comprise transparent tubes packed with isolated layers of selected minerals. A solvent extract from a sample potentially contaminated with mycotoxins is passed through the column. As the mycotoxin mixture passes through the detector tube and is contacted by the various mineral adsorbants, selected mycotoxins are immobilized on a specific mineral while other mycotoxins and co-extracted organic compounds pass through that layer to be immobilized on subsequent downstream mineral layers. The presence of mycotoxins is determined by examining the developed detector tube under a long wave uv light source.

Selective immobilization and detection of mycotoxins in solution

Toxicity of Ochratoxin A and Tannic Acid to Growing Chicks

Vanadium (V), a metallic element of the first transition series, is widely distributed in the environment Although an essential trace element in higher animals, chronic exposure to V is of concern because of its increased concentration near industrial operations, its occurrence in the ash of combustion products of petroleum and coal, and its subsequent biomagnification in the environment V is found in trace amounts in both terrestrial and aquatic animals and in solution can form inorganic orthovanadate oxyanions that, if absorbed, are eliminated primarily by the kidneys Because V is often found concentrated in renal tissue to the largest extent in the body, the kidneys may represent a major site of action Moreover, V in the vanadate configuration increases the urinary excretion of solutes and water in the rat, and inhibits renal organic ion accumulation and renal Na+, K+-ATPase in vitro and in vivo Furthermore, as a nutritionally required element, V may play a regulatory role in salt and water excretion by modification of the Na+ pump in the kidney

N. D. Heidelbaugh

Papers

Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate: A High Affinity Sorbent for Aflatoxin

Selective immobilization and detection of mycotoxins in solution

Toxicity of Ochratoxin A and Tannic Acid to Growing Chicks

Vanadium: chemistry and the kidney.

Toxicity of ochratoxin A and penicillic acid to chicks.