Molds

Mycotoxins

Almost never accute, slow long term exposure is the problem

Aflatoxins

Acute, B1, B2, G1, G2 types, grow in a wide range of warm temerpate crops, mostly effect peanuts

Aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus

Produce aflatoxins, grow in wide conditions

Aflatoxin toxicity

Acute, liver carcinogen, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppression, growth stunting in children, liver enzymes bind and make epoxied which causes cancer

Ochratoxin A

Ocher colored aspergilli, black aspergilli, and penicillin species

Ochratoxin A toxicity

Nephrotoxin, carcinogen, circulates in blood for 3 weeks, phenylalanine metabolism

Ochratoxin A exposure

Barley, wheat, meat, beer, wine coffee, cocoa

OTA control

Rare and transient, best control method is rapid drying, proper irrigation, use of crop cover, fungiside application

Fusarium verticilloides

Produce fumonisins

Fumonisins

Grow on corn and sorghum, often asymptomatic unless the plant becomes stressed,

Fumonisins toxicity

Sphingolipid metabolism, can cause heart cancer and esophageal cancer

Fumonisin control

Pre harvest contamination, rapidly dry corn

Nixtamalization

Soak and cook corn in alkaline solution to remove fumonisins

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Fusarium graminearum, F. Culmorum, in corn and wheat, inhibits protein synthesis, in cool but also wet climates

Zearalenone (ZEA)

Low acute toxicity, metabolites hav estrogen in activity in agricultural animals, made by same DON species, toxic to liver cells, red blood cells and genotoxic