Immunological Assays for Mycotoxin Detection

摘要

MYCOTOXINS ARE TOXIC S6C-ondary metabolites produced by molds that often contaminate agricultural staples such as corn, wheat, and peanuts prior to harvest and during storage. These compounds have a wide array of chemical structures and are produced by common field and storage fungi, including many species of Aspergillus, Peni-cillium, and Fusarium. Mycotoxins can elicit a variety of toxic symptoms in humans and animals, ranging from gastroenteritis to cancer (Table 1). For example, the aflatoxins were identified in the early 1960s as etiologic agents of hepatotoxicity and hepatic cancer in turkey poults and rainbow trout, respectively (Pestka and Casale, 1990). Strict regulations were subsequently established for aflatoxins in food in many countries because of the potential for similar effects in humans.