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Ochratoxin A

 
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Ochratoxin A
 
 
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Ochratoxin A, a toxin
Toxin

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. For a toxic substance not produced by living organisms, "toxicant" is the more appropriate term, and "toxics" is an acceptable plural....
 produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum, is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxin
Mycotoxin

A mycotoxin is a toxin produced by an organism of the fungus kingdom, which includes mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. Most fungi are Aerobic_organism ....
s in the world. Human exposure occurs mainly through consumption of improperly stored food products, particularly contaminated grain
GRAIN

GRAIN is an international non-governmental organization based in Barcelona, Spain, which works toward sustainable agriculture. It was formed upon the realization that the genetic diversity of the world's food crops are being drastically eliminated....
 and pork
Pork

Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig . The word, pork, is often meant to denote specifically the fresh meat of the pig, but it can be used as an all-inclusive term, to include cured, smoked, or processed meats It is one of the most-commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry dating back...
 products, as well as coffee
Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the Coffea. Caffeinated coffee has a stimulating effect in humans....
, wine grapes and dried grapes. The toxin has been found in the tissues and organs of animals, including human blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
 and breast milk
Breast milk

Breast milk refers to the milk produced by a mother to feed her baby. It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to eat and digest other foods; older infants and toddlers may continue to be breastfeeding....
.






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Encyclopedia


Ochratoxin A, a toxin
Toxin

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. For a toxic substance not produced by living organisms, "toxicant" is the more appropriate term, and "toxics" is an acceptable plural....
 produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum, is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxin
Mycotoxin

A mycotoxin is a toxin produced by an organism of the fungus kingdom, which includes mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. Most fungi are Aerobic_organism ....
s in the world. Human exposure occurs mainly through consumption of improperly stored food products, particularly contaminated grain
GRAIN

GRAIN is an international non-governmental organization based in Barcelona, Spain, which works toward sustainable agriculture. It was formed upon the realization that the genetic diversity of the world's food crops are being drastically eliminated....
 and pork
Pork

Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig . The word, pork, is often meant to denote specifically the fresh meat of the pig, but it can be used as an all-inclusive term, to include cured, smoked, or processed meats It is one of the most-commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry dating back...
 products, as well as coffee
Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the Coffea. Caffeinated coffee has a stimulating effect in humans....
, wine grapes and dried grapes. The toxin has been found in the tissues and organs of animals, including human blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
 and breast milk
Breast milk

Breast milk refers to the milk produced by a mother to feed her baby. It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to eat and digest other foods; older infants and toddlers may continue to be breastfeeding....
. Ochratoxin A toxicity has large species- and sex-specific differences.

Synonyms:
  • (R)-N- [(5-Chloro- 3,4-dihydro- 8-hydroxy- 3-methyl- 1-oxo- 1H-2-benzopyran-7-yl) -carbonyl]- L- phenylalanine
  • (-)-N- [(5-Chloro- 8-hydroxy- 3-methyl- 1-oxo- 7-isochromanyl) carbonyl]- 3-phenylalanine


Impact on human and animal health


Carcinogenicity

Ochratoxin A is potentially carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B
List of IARC Group 2B carcinogens

Substances, mixtures and exposure circumstances in this list have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as Group 2B: The agent is possibly carcinogenic to humans....
). Ochratoxin A has been shown to be weakly mutagenic, possibly by induction of oxidative DNA damage.

There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ochratoxin A. Ochratoxin A was tested for carcinogenicity by oral administration in mice and rats. It increased the incidence of hepato-cellular (Hepatic tumor) tumours in mice of each sex and produced renal-cell adenomas and carcinomas in male mice and in rats of each sex.

Immuno suppression and immunotoxicity

Ochratoxin A can cause immunosuppression
Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression involves an act that reduces the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immuno-suppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other conditions....
 and immunotoxicity in animals. The toxin's immunosuppressant activity in animals may include depressed antibody
Antibody

Antibodies are gamma globulin proteins that are found in blood or other bodily fluids of vertebrates, and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacterium and viruses....
 responses, reduced size of immune organs (such as the thymus
Thymus

In human anatomy, the thymus is an organ located in the upper anterior portion of the Thoracic cavity just behind the sternum. The main function of the thymus is to provide an area for T lymphocyte maturation....
, spleen
Spleen

The spleen is an organ found in all vertebrate animals. In humans, the spleen is located in the abdomen of the body, where it functions in the destruction of redundant red blood cells, and holds a reservoir of blood....
, and lymph node
Lymph node

A Lymph node is an organ consisting of many types of cells, and is a part of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles....
s), changes in immune cell number and function, and altered cytokine
Cytokine

Cytokines are a category of signaling molecules that, like hormones and neurotransmitters, are used extensively in cell communication. They are proteins, peptides or glycoproteins....
 production. Immunotoxicity probably results from cell death following apoptosis
Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Programmed Cell death involves a series of biochemical events leading to a characteristic cell Morphology and death, in more specific terms, a series of biochemical events that lead to a variety of morphological changes, including Bleb , changes...
 and necrosis
Necrosis

Necrosis is the name given to premature death of cell s and living biological tissue. Necrosis is caused by external factors, such as infection, toxins, or trauma....
, in combination with slow replacement of affected immune cells due to inhibition of protein synthesis.

Potential link to Balkan endemic nephropathy

A number of descriptive studies have suggested a correlation between exposure to ochratoxin A and Balkan endemic nephropathy, and have found a correlation between the geographical distribution of Balkan endemic nephropathy and a high incidence of, and mortality
Death

Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that define a life organism. It refers to both a particular event and to the condition that results thereby....
 from, urothelial urinary tract tumours. However, there is currently insufficient information to conclusively link ochratoxin A to Balkan endemic nephropathy. The toxin may require synergistic interactions with predisposing genotypes or other environmental toxicants to induce Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Food animal industry impact

Ochratoxin-contaminated feed has its major economic impact on the poultry
Poultry

Poultry is the category of domesticated birds which some people keep for the purpose of collecting their egg , or kill for their meat and/or feathers....
 industry. Chickens, turkeys and ducklings are susceptible to this toxin
Toxin

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. For a toxic substance not produced by living organisms, "toxicant" is the more appropriate term, and "toxics" is an acceptable plural....
. Clinical signs of avian
Avian

Avian may refer to:* Bird* Avian , an American metal band* Avians, a fantasy race in several fantasy settings...
 ochratoxicosis are similar to other toxins and generally involve reduction in weight gains, poor feed conversion, reduced egg production, poor egg shell quality and kidney poisoning.

Acute toxicity does not seem to constitute a problem in cattle.

See also

  • Ochratoxin
    Ochratoxin

    Ochratoxin A, B, and C are mycotoxins produced by some Aspergillus species and Penicillium species, like Aspergillus ochraceus or Penicillium viridicatum, with ochratoxin A as the most prevalent and relevant fungal toxin of this group....


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