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A mycotoxin (from the Greek μύκης mykes, "fungus" and τοξικός toxikos, "poisonous") [1] [2] is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi [3] [4] and is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals.
T-2 mycotoxin is a trichothecene mycotoxin. It is a naturally occurring mold byproduct of Fusarium spp. fungus which is toxic to humans and other animals. The clinical condition it causes is alimentary toxic aleukia and a host of symptoms related to organs as diverse as the skin, airway, and stomach.
Alimentary toxic aleukia is a mycotoxin-induced condition characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia (aleukia), hemorrhaging, skin inflammation, and sometimes death. [1] Alimentary toxic aleukia almost always refers to the human condition associated with presence of T-2 Toxin. [1]
The main target organ in mammals is the liver, so aflatoxicosis primarily is a hepatic disease. Conditions increasing the likelihood of aflatoxicosis in humans include limited availability of food, environmental conditions that favour mould growth on foodstuffs, and lack of regulatory systems for aflatoxin monitoring and control. [36]
Mycotoxin-contaminated grain and other food products have a significant impact on human and animal health globally. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 25% of the world's food may be contaminated by mycotoxins. [58] Prevention of mold exposure from food is generally to consume food that has no mold growths on it. [48]
Zearalenone is a white crystalline solid, with molecular formula C 18 H 22 O 5 and 318.364 g/mol molecular weight. It is a resorcyclic acid lactone.It exhibits blue-green fluorescence when excited by long wavelength ultraviolet (UV) light (360 nm) and a more intense green fluorescence when excited with short wavelength UV light (260 nm). [4]
The consumption of OTA is found to have neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects in humans. [7] Toxicological studies have shown OTA to have strong carcinogenic mycotoxin effects on the liver and kidney of humans. [30] Renal failure in human subjects have been reported after the inhalation of OTA. [31]
Severity of symptoms depends on the dose and type of exposure, but treatment is primarily focused on supporting bodily systems damaged by the mycotoxin. The first step in most exposure cases is to remove potentially contaminated clothing and to flush the sites of exposure thoroughly with water. [ 68 ]