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Toxins Mar 2024Trichothecenes produced by species are commonly detected in oats. However, the ratios of the concentrations of free trichothecenes and their conjugates and how they are...
Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Concentrations of Trichothecenes, Their Glucosides, and Emerging Toxins in Naturally Contaminated, Irradiated, and Inoculated Oats.
Trichothecenes produced by species are commonly detected in oats. However, the ratios of the concentrations of free trichothecenes and their conjugates and how they are impacted by different interacting environmental conditions are not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of water activity (0.95 and 0.98 a) and temperature (20 and 25 °C) stress on the production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol and their conjugates, as well as diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Multiple mycotoxins were detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from 64 contaminated oat samples. The highest concentrations of HT-2-glucoside (HT-2-Glc) were observed at 0.98 a and 20 °C, and were higher than other type A trichothecenes in the natural oats' treatments. However, no statistical differences were found between the mean concentrations of HT-2-Glc and HT-2 toxins in all storage conditions analysed. DAS concentrations were generally low and highest at 0.95 a and 20 °C, while deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside levels were highest at 0.98 a and 20 °C in the naturally contaminated oats. Emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin, moniliformin, and enniatins mostly increased with a rise in water activity and temperature in the naturally contaminated oats treatment. This study reinforces the importance of storage a and temperature conditions in the high risk of free and modified toxin contamination of small cereal grains.
Topics: Fusarium; Avena; Trichothecenes; Glucosides; Food Contamination; Temperature; Mycotoxins; T-2 Toxin
PubMed: 38668591
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040166 -
Heliyon Mar 2024Endophytic fungi live inside virtually every plant species, without causing any apparent disease or damage to the host. Nevertheless, under particular conditions,...
Endophytic fungi live inside virtually every plant species, without causing any apparent disease or damage to the host. Nevertheless, under particular conditions, mutualistic lifestyle of endophytes may change to pathogenic. In this study, the biodiversity of and species, the two most abundant endophytic fungi isolated from healthy potato plants in two climatically different regions of Iran, Ardebil in the north-west and Kerman in the south-east, was investigated. Seventy-five strains and 83 strains were molecularly characterized by multi-locus gene sequencing. strains were characterized by the sequences of and gene fragments and the phylogenetic tree was resolved in 3 well-separated clades. Seventy-three strains were included in the clade A, referred as section, 6 strains were included in clade B, referred as section, and 4 strains were included in clade C, referred as section. strains, identified by sequencing the translation elongation factor 1α (), β-tubulin () and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genomic regions, were assigned to 13 species, , , , , , , , , , , , and . Twenty-six selected strains, representative of , , , , , and , were also tested for production of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), T-2 toxin (T-2), beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENNs), fumonisins (FBs), fusaric acid (FA) and moniliformin (MON). None of the tested strains produced trichothecene toxins (DON, NIV, DAS and T-2). Two out of 2 isolates, 1/6 , 1/3 , and 1/9 did not produce any of the tested toxins; the rest of strains produced one or more BEA, ENNs, FBs, FA and MON toxins. The most toxigenic strain, ITEM-19012, produced the highest quantities of FBs (7946, 4693 and 4333 μg/g of B1, B2, and B3 respectively), along with the highest quantities of both BEA (4190 μg/g) and MON (538 μg/g). These findings suggest that contamination of potato tubers with mycotoxins in the field or at post-harvest, due to a change in lifestyle of endophytic microflora, should be carefully considered and furtherly investigated.
PubMed: 38434378
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26385 -
Journal of Natural Products Feb 2024Trichothecenes (TCNs) are a large group of tricyclic sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins that have intriguing structural features and remarkable biological activities. Herein, we...
Trichothecenes (TCNs) are a large group of tricyclic sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins that have intriguing structural features and remarkable biological activities. Herein, we focused on three TCNs (anguidine, verrucarin A, and verrucarol) and their ability to target both the blood and liver stages of species, the parasite responsible for malaria. Anguidine and verrucarin A were found to be highly effective against the blood and liver stages of malaria, while verrucarol had no effect at the highest concentration tested. However, these compounds were also found to be cytotoxic and, thus, not selective, making them unsuitable for drug development. Nonetheless, they could be useful as chemical probes for protein synthesis inhibitors due to their direct impact on parasite synthesis processes.
Topics: Humans; Antimalarials; Trichothecenes; Plasmodium; Malaria; Liver; Plasmodium falciparum
PubMed: 38262446
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c01019 -
Toxins Sep 2023There is growing concern about the effects of mycotoxins on mammalian reproduction. Although the effects of single mycotoxins have been well documented, the impact of...
There is growing concern about the effects of mycotoxins on mammalian reproduction. Although the effects of single mycotoxins have been well documented, the impact of their mixtures on spermatozoon quality is less known. Here, frozen-thawed semen ( = 6 bulls) was in-vitro-cultured (2 h) without (control) or with (i) a single mycotoxin [zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), toxin 2 (T2), and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)] in a dose-response manner; (ii) binary mixtures (OTA + T2, OTA + ZEN, OTA + DAS, ZEN + T2, DAS + T2 and ZEN + DAS); or (iii) ternary mixtures (OTA + DAS + T2, OTA + ZEN + T2, and ZEN + DAS + T2). Then, the spermatozoa quality was characterized according to its plasma- and acrosome-membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxidation status by a flow cytometer. Exposure to single mycotoxins or binary mixtures did not affect the spermatozoa characteristics. However, exposure to the ternary mixtures, OTA + DAS + T2 and OTA + ZEN + T2, reduced ( < 0.05) the mitochondrial membrane potential relative to the control. In addition, OTA + ZEN + T2 increased ( < 0.05) the proportion of spermatozoa with reactive oxygen species relative to the control. The most suggested interaction effect between the mycotoxins was found to be an additive one. A synergistic interaction, mainly regarding the oxidation status of the spermatozoa, was also found between the mycotoxins. The current study sheds light on the potential risk of exposing spermatozoa to a mycotoxin mixture.
Topics: Cattle; Animals; Male; Mycotoxins; Zearalenone; Spermatozoa; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Plasma; Mammals
PubMed: 37755982
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090556 -
Toxins Mar 2023Small grain cereals are frequently infected with mycotoxigenic fungi. Oats have a particularly high risk of contamination with type A trichothecene mycotoxins; their...
Small grain cereals are frequently infected with mycotoxigenic fungi. Oats have a particularly high risk of contamination with type A trichothecene mycotoxins; their glucoside conjugates have also been reported. Agronomy practices, cereal variety and weather conditions have been suggested to play a role in infection in oats. The current study investigates concentrations of free and conjugated mycotoxins in organic and conventional oats grown in Scotland. In 2019, 33 milling oat samples (12 organic, 21 conventional) were collected from farmers across Scotland, together with sample questionnaires. Samples were analysed for 12 mycotoxins (type A trichothecenes T-2-toxin, HT-2-toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol; type B trichothecenes deoxynivalenol, nivalenol; zearalenone and their respective glucosides) using LC-MS/MS. The prevalence of type A trichothecenes T-2/HT-2 was very high (100% of conventional oats, 83% of organic oats), whereas type B trichothecenes were less prevalent, and zearalenone was rarely found. T-2-glucoside and deoxynivalenol-glucoside were the most prevalent conjugated mycotoxins (36 and 33%), and co-occurrence between type A and B trichothecenes were frequently observed (66% of samples). Organic oats were contaminated at significantly lower average concentrations than conventional oats, whereas the effect of weather parameters were not statistically significant. Our results clearly indicate that free and conjugated T-2- and HT-2-toxins pose a major risk to Scottish oat production and that organic production and crop rotation offer potential mitigation strategies.
Topics: Mycotoxins; Avena; Edible Grain; Zearalenone; Chromatography, Liquid; Trichothecenes, Type B; Food Contamination; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; T-2 Toxin; Scotland; Glucosides; Fusarium
PubMed: 37104186
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040247 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2023The potato is a crop of global importance for the food industry. This is why effective protection against pathogens is so important. Fungi as potato pathogens are...
The potato is a crop of global importance for the food industry. This is why effective protection against pathogens is so important. Fungi as potato pathogens are responsible for plant diseases and a significant reduction in yields, as well as for the formation of mycotoxins. This study focuses on the effect of three natural biocides, yeast , lactic acid bacteria , and aqueous garlic extract, on the improvement of the physiology of planted potato tubers and the reduction in mycotoxin formation. The secondary metabolites produced by the fungal pathogens of genera , and in the presence of these biocontrol agents were compared to profiles obtained from contaminated potatoes. Analysis of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry data showed the presence of 68 secondary metabolites, including the mycotoxins: alternariol, alternariol methyl ether, altertoxin-I, aurofusarin, beauvericin, diacetoxyscirpenol, enniatin B, and sterigmatocystin. The studies showed that the applied biocontrol agents had a positive effect on the physiological parameters of potatoes (including root growth, stem growth, gas exchange, and chlorophyll content index) and on the reduction in the production of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites by , , and .
Topics: Solanum tuberosum; Mycotoxins; Lactones; Chromatography, Liquid; Alternaria
PubMed: 36982130
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065221 -
Plant Disease Mar 2023Rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle blight, caused by various fungal and bacterial pathogens, is an emerging threat to rice production, due to the impact on rice yield and...
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle blight, caused by various fungal and bacterial pathogens, is an emerging threat to rice production, due to the impact on rice yield and quality. In the autumn of 2020, a survey was conducted to understand the etiology of the disease in Liaoning province, an important rice growing area in northeastern China. Rice seeds with typical reddish or brown spots on the glumes were collected from various rice fields. Symptomatic seeds were sterilized with 5% sodium hypochlorite and 75% ethanol, rinsed in sterile distilled water, and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates. After 3 to 5 days of incubation at 25°C, suspected Fusarium strains showing cream to salmon colonies on PDA were purified by the single-spore isolation method. The identification of these strains were performed based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex was the most frequently, followed by the members of Fusarium graminearum species complex and Fusarium fujikuroi species complex. However, one strain was identified as F. sporotrichioides Sherb. based on the following results: (I) Colonies on PDA produced dense mycelia and typical red pigment on the undersurface. Macroconidia were usually 3- to 5-septate, moderately curved to straight, and 27.46 ± 7.16 × 3.78 ± 0.8 μm (n = 50). Microconidia were ellipsoid to fusoid and 9.77 ± 2.29 × 2.99 ± 0.65 μm (n = 50). (II) Genomic DNA was extracted by AxyPrep Multisource Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit according to the manufacturer's instructions; the sequence analysis of partial translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) were accomplished with the primers EF1/2 and RPB5F/7CR, respectively. BLAST searches of the obtained sequences had 99-100% homology with several F. sporotrichioides strains from GenBank. DNA sequences of partial TEF-1α and RPB2 were deposited in GenBank as OQ068267 and OQ068269, respectively. (III) This strain can synthesis T-2, HT-2, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and Neosolaniol (NEO) toxin at the concentration of about 5000, 600, 700 and 8000 μg/kg in rice culture, respectively, according to the previous culture and analysis methods (1,2). (IV) Pathogenicity tests were conducted with the rice variety Nanjing 9108 by spraying spore suspension (106 conidia/ml) on rice spikes (5 mL per spike) at the flowering stage. Control spikes were inoculated with sterile distilled water. Three weeks after inoculation, the inoculated rice glumes showed similar symptoms with the original samples in the field. No symptoms were observed on controls. Besides, F. sporotrichioides was successfully recovered from the inoculated rice spikes but not from controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. sporotrichioides causing rice panicle blight in China and this disease appears to be a serious risk to food safety and human health. Funding: This work was supported by Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology (CX(21)1005). References: (1) J. J. Mateo et al. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 72:115, 2002. (2) J. Qiu et al. Plant Dis. 104:2193, 2020.
PubMed: 36916843
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0018-PDN -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine Jan 2023In spring 2021 increasing numbers of cats presenting with severe pancytopenia were noted in United Kingdom (UK).
BACKGROUND
In spring 2021 increasing numbers of cats presenting with severe pancytopenia were noted in United Kingdom (UK).
OBJECTIVE
To describe process and outcome of the investigation performed into the outbreak of pancytopenia in cats.
ANIMALS
Five hundred and eighty client owned cats that presented with severe bi- or pancytopenia of unknown cause.
METHODS
Real-time data collection was performed by an online registration forum available to all veterinary surgeons in UK. Data collected included demographics, clinicopathological findings, diagnostic testing, dietary and drug history, outcome and COVID household status. Mycotoxicological feed analysis was performed on feed samples of 3 diets frequently mentioned in the database and 3 control diets.
RESULTS
Five hundred and eighty cats presented to 378 veterinary practices were included for analysis. Case fatality rate was 63.3%. Dietary history was available for 544 (93.8%) cats, of which 500 (86%) were fed 1 of 3 diets (which were recalled midinvestigation). 54 (9.3%) cats were not fed a recalled product, with diet information unknown in 26 (4.5%) cats. Analysis of feed samples revealed concentrations of hematotoxic trichothecene T-2/HT-2 mycotoxins greater than recommended by the European Commission in 5/7 recalled diet samples but in none of control diet samples. The trichothecene mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) was detectable in all recalled diet samples but not in any of control samples.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Contaminated-feed induced trichothecene mycotoxicosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for pancytopenia in cats.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Pancytopenia; Food Contamination; COVID-19; Trichothecenes; Mycotoxins; Diet; United Kingdom; Disease Outbreaks; Animal Feed; Cat Diseases
PubMed: 36610017
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16615 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine Jan 2023After a strong epidemiological link to diet was established in an outbreak of pancytopenia in cats in spring 2021 in the United Kingdom, 3 dry diets were recalled....
BACKGROUND
After a strong epidemiological link to diet was established in an outbreak of pancytopenia in cats in spring 2021 in the United Kingdom, 3 dry diets were recalled. Concentrations of the hemato- and myelotoxic mycotoxins T-2, HT-2 and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) greater than the European Commission guidance for dry cat foods were detected in the recalled diets.
OBJECTIVES
To describe clinical and clinicopathological findings in cats diagnosed with suspected diet induced pancytopenia.
ANIMALS
Fifty cats presenting with pancytopenia after exposure to a recalled diet.
METHODS
Multicenter retrospective case series study. Cats with known exposure to 1 of the recalled diets were included if presented with bi- or pancytopenia and underwent bone marrow examination.
RESULTS
Case fatality rate was 78%. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsy examination results were available in 23 cats; 19 cats had a bone marrow aspirate, and 8 cats had a biopsy core, available for examination. Bone marrow hypo to aplasia-often affecting all cell lines-was the main feature in all 31 available core specimens. A disproportionately pronounced effect on myeloid and megakaryocytic cells was observed in 19 cats. Myelofibrosis or bone marrow necrosis was not a feature.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Mycotoxin induced pancytopenia should be considered as differential diagnosis in otherwise healthy cats presenting with bi- or pancytopenia and bone marrow hypo- to aplasia.
Topics: Cats; Animals; Pancytopenia; Retrospective Studies; Bone Marrow; Biopsy; Diet; Cat Diseases
PubMed: 36609843
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16613 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jan 2023Trichothecenes (TCT) are very common mycotoxins. While the effects of DON, the most prevalent TCT, have been extensively studied, less is known about the effect of other...
Trichothecenes (TCT) are very common mycotoxins. While the effects of DON, the most prevalent TCT, have been extensively studied, less is known about the effect of other trichothecenes. DON has ribotoxic, pro-inflammatory, and cytotoxic potential and induces multiple toxic effects in humans and animals. Although DON is not genotoxic by itself, it has recently been shown that this toxin exacerbates the genotoxicity induced by model or bacterial genotoxins. Here, we show that five TCT, namely T-2 toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (FX), and the newly discovered NX toxin, also exacerbate the DNA damage inflicted by various genotoxins. The exacerbation was dose dependent and observed with phleomycin, a model genotoxin, captan, a pesticide with genotoxic potential, and colibactin, a bacterial genotoxin produced by the intestinal microbiota. For this newly described effect, the trichothecenes ranked in the following order: T-2>DAS > FX > NIV ≥ DON ≥ NX. The genotoxic exacerbating effect of TCT correlated with their ribotoxic potential, as measured by the inhibition of protein synthesis. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that TCT, which are not genotoxic by themselves, exacerbate DNA damage induced by various genotoxins. Therefore, foodborne TCT could enhance the carcinogenic potential of genotoxins present in the diet or produced by intestinal bacteria.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Trichothecenes; DNA Damage; Mutagens
PubMed: 36410598
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120625