Fusaria and Toxigenic Molds Other than Aspergilli and Penicillia

Abstract

Toxigenic molds in genera other than Aspergillus and Penicillium are most often found as contaminants of plant-derived foods, especially cereal grains. The most important group of mycotoxigenic molds other than Aspergillus and Penicillium species are species of the genus Fusarium. A very severe human disease that occurred in the former Soviet Union during World War II, known as alimentary toxic aleukia, is believed to be caused by T-2 and HT-2 toxins produced by Fusarium sporotrichioides and F. poae of the Sporotrichiella section of Fusarium. Dietary deoxynivalenol has been shown to stimulate immunoglobin production, causing elevated immunoglobin A levels in mice. Among the harmful effects of this stimulation is kidney damage very similar to a common human kidney condition known as glomerulonephritis or immunoglobulin A nephropathy. The most distinctive feature of F. poae is its production of abundant globose to oval, almost pyriform (pear-shaped) microconidia, with few macroconidia. The major mycotoxins produced by Fusarium graminearum are deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. The main human disease associated with F. verticillioides is esophageal cancer. The first problem encountered in the analysis of grains for Fusarium toxins is the same as that for other mycotoxins, i.e., sampling. Deoxynivalenol is the most common trichothecene found in commodity grains; therefore, the greatest potential exists for it to occur in finished foods. Other potentially toxic molds, aside from Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species, that may contaminate foods include species of the genera Acremonium, Alternaria, Byssochlamys, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Claviceps, Myrothecium, Neosartorya, Phomopis, Rhizoctonia, and Rhizopus.