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Aflatoxins
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites produced by filamentous fungi which, even at low concentrations, represent an important danger for both animal and human health [1,2]. Currently, over 300 mycotoxins have been identified worldwide, being aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenone, trichothecenes, and fumonisins, the most frequently found with synergistic toxic effects reported when more than one of these mycotoxins are present in the feed [3,4]. Mycotoxins are...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites that are produced by fungi growing on food products, such as corn, peanut, and wheat, among others [1]. Exposure occurs predominantly by the ingestion of contaminated feed, when contaminated cereals such as corn, wheat, peanuts and sorghum, as well as other raw materials, are used in the preparation of animal feed [2]. Aflatoxins are produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, particularly A. flavus, A. parasiticus...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced as secondary metabolites by certain groups of fungi during their growth in food and feed products, which can lead to several toxic effects in animals and humans [1]. The most important fungal genera that produce mycotoxins are Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium, and the main classes of mycotoxins produced by these genera are the aflatoxins (AF), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FB), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone...
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1. Introduction The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated that 25% of the cereal production is contaminated by mycotoxins [1]. Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 )—the major secondary metabolite of Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. nomius—has adverse effects on humans and animals that result in health disorders and economic losses. To avoid these harmful effects, many physical, chemical, and biological decontamination...
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1. Introduction One of the main toxic factors in dairy products is the concentration of mycotoxins, which are secondary metabolites produced by organisms of the fungus kingdom [1]. They can cause diseases and even deaths either in humans or in animals [2]. The term “mycotoxin” is usually intended for the toxic chemical products of fungi. The fungi consume organic matter where humidity and temperature are adequate. If the conditions are appropriate, fungi proliferate...
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Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi that can be present in feed ingredients. They are of great concern because they reduce the nutritional value of the feed formula and have a negative impact on the health and performance of the livestock. In the case of Southeast Asia, the annual loss due to aflatoxins in Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand was estimated to be around $900 million dollars, of which $500 million of the costs were linked to the effects in human...
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Climate change threatens future food security due to the probable increase in temperature and changes in precipitation patterns which could affect the distribution of where different crops may be viably grown 1,2 . Land suitability and capability classifications are used to evaluate the best growing areas for specific crops and to identify factors that might limit their growth 3,4 . Key factors in determining these classifications include fluctuations in moisture...
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Introduction The poultry industry in Nigeria is an essential subsector of agriculture that provides food, employment, and other economic resources for the country (Ezekiel et al. 2012a). Livestock production can be threatened when feeds are contaminated by fungi and their toxic metabolites. Several mycotoxins, including aflatoxins (AFs), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA ), fumonisins (FUMs ), nivalenol (N IV ) and zearalenone (ZEN) have been reported to contaminate poultry feed and their...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced naturally by some species of filamentous fungi, such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium [1,2]. Fungal growth can occur before or after harvest, during storage, or in foods, especially in environments with high humidity and temperatures, followed by mycotoxin production. Most mycotoxins are chemically sta-ble and persist after food processing [3,4]. The most investigated mycotoxins are aflatoxin B1 (AFB1),...
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Sunshine Mills Inc. is recalling certain products because of potentially elevated levels of aflatoxin above the allowable limit.
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins and are dangerous because of their high level of toxicity for animals and people. Aflatoxin is produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets. People with allergies or sensitivities to mold can have...
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INTRODUCTION As a fungal secondary metabolite of the Aspergillus species, aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) is known to be the most toxigenic mycotoxin (Yunus et al., 2011). Feed contamination with AFB 1 has been a major feed safety concern due to its negative effects on growth performance, production, hepatic functions, and immune system in many livestock species (Ledoux et al., 1999; Yarru et al., 2009; Andretta et al., 2011; Grenier and Applegate,...
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1. Introduction In most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), chili peppers are an important ingredient to prepare a large array of traditional dishes [1]. Consumption of high quantities of chili peppers is associated with health benefits, including disease prevention [2,3]. However, chili peppers in SSA are frequently contaminated with aflatoxins by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi [4,5]. Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins. Even at minute concentrations, aflatoxins pose...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that represent a serious threat to the health of both animals and humans [1]. Food and feed contamination by mycotoxins poses major concerns for public health and welfare as dietary exposure may cause disorders, dysfunctions, and alterations of physiological states in both humans and animals [2]. Ripening staple crops are all exposed to phyllosphere fungi, some of which are able to infect the crops resulting in...
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1. Introduction The gut is constantly exposed to potentially harmful contaminants from food or feed, such as mycotoxins [1]. Aflatoxin B1 is a mycotoxin produced by different species of fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus [2]. AFB1 is a potent carcinogen in humans and animals [3] and, for this reason, was classified in Group 1 of human carcinogens on the basis of toxicological data. Aflatoxins can contaminate different commodities such as cereals, nuts, dried...
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1. Introduction Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites of the Aspergillus species of fungi, which are generally contaminate tropical and subtropical food and feedstuffs [1]. However, due to climate change, their occurrence in temperate climates should be taken into account not only during storage but also on the field [2,3]. Climate change usually causes drought stress in fungi, and stress-responding pathways can stimulate the AF production of Aspergillus flavus...
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1. Introduction Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is a cereal of extreme importance in the diets of many populations, contributing especially as a source of energy because of its high content of starches (up to 73% of kernel weight), proteins (8–13.7%), fatty acids (4–5.4%), as well as vitamins and minerals [1,2]. Corn grits are produced by removing the outer bran, the germ, and the tip cap of the grains, followed by grinding into smaller coarse bits. A wide variety of...
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1. Introduction Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds produced by Aspergillus flavus and closely related fungi in several crops [1]. Maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) are amongst the most susceptible crops. Crop contamination with these potent compounds negatively affects both human and animal health, the income of farmers, and trade opportunities [2–4]. In the case of animals, when feeds are prepared with aflatoxin-contaminated crops,...
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1. Introduction The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are highly conserved in eukaryotes, and play critical roles in stress response pathways. These proteins are able to form homodimers or heterodimers, and bind specific DNA sequences to regulate the expression of genes involved in cellular responses to oxidative stress. For example, the evolutionarily conserved bZIP protein, Nrf2, is known to form heterodimers with ATF4 or MAF, and bind to antioxidant response...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. The word mycotoxin is derived from the Greek radicals “mykes” and “toxicum”, meaning fungus and toxin, respectively. This term was coined after a veterinary outbreak in England in 1962, when approximately 100,000 turkey poultry died from the ingestion of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut meal [1]. Since then, mycotoxins have become an important issue in...
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