Abstract
Ochratoxins are secondary metabolites of Aspergillus and Penicillium, that are hazardous to health through contamination of dietary foods. Ochratoxin A (OTA) remains the single most potent member of this group of mycotoxins. OTA has a long half-life in humans and is thus easily detected in serum. Dietary intake studies have confirmed link between endemic nephrotoxicity in humans to their daily household intake of OTA. OTA has been reported to contribute to endemic nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity in humans and animals. OTA produces renal tumours, DNA adducts and chromosomal aberrations in kidneys. OTA may be embryotoxic, teratogenic, and immunotoxic only at doses higher than those causing nephrotoxicity. The incidence of endemic nephrotoxicity has been mostly reported in northeast Europe since the early fifties. Recent studies however have warned that OTA and other toxins, such as aristolochic acid, show very similar renal pathology. There is thus the need for thorough co-occurrence studies on toxin incidence.
Highlights
University of Western Australia, The Lung Institute of Western Australia, Ground Floor E Block, Tel.: +27-31-373-5108; Fax: +27-86-687-0186
Further reports suggest that chronic dietary exposure to Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin frequently detected in various food items may be linked to the pathogenesis of endemic nephropathy, a chronic tubulointerstitial kidney disease which occurs in geographically limited areas of the Balkan region [8]
The aetiology of endemic nephropathy is still unknown [14]. This disease occurs in the rural population of geographically limited areas of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia, and a number of theories have been proposed about its aetiology
Summary
Ochatoxins belong to a family of mycotoxins that are secondary metabolites of Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. Ochatoxins belong to a family of mycotoxins that are secondary metabolites of Aspergillus sp. Several types of ochratoxins occur naturally, namely, ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B OTA) and ochratoxin C (ethylated OTA), and are often co-produced. Ochratoxin A (Figure 1) is the most prevalent toxin and is classified as a group 2b potential human carcinogen by the International. Agency for Research on Cancer [1]. Aristolochic acids are phytotoxins belonging to the Aristolochiaceae family of plants and have been suspected to induce similar nephrotoxic effects in humans and animals [2]
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