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Food toxin
- 1. Dr. T.A.More Assistant professor, CommunityMedicine Dept, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
- 2. Toxins 1: Aflatoxins 2: Ergottoxins 3: Endemic Ascites 4: Fusarium Toxins
- 3. Aflatoxins Aflatoxins arethe mycotoxins, which is produced by certain species of Aspergillus (A. flavus and A. parasiticus), which develop at high temperatures and humidity levels. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic substances and may be present in a large number of foods. This toxin can cause cancer, cirrhosis of the liver. The latest report shows that 400 cases of aflatoxin per day including 100 deaths from some districts in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- 4. Cont.… The mostcommon commodities contaminated are tree nuts, peanuts, maize, corn and cottonseed oil. Aflatoxin B1 and G1 are the most potent hepatotoxins, in addition to being carcinogenic. It has also been detected samples of breast milk and urine collected from children suffering from infantile cirrhosis.
- 5. Aspergillus flavus sporulatingon a peanut seed A. flavus and A. niger on rotting peanuts Peanuts and corn are contaminated with Aspergillus (Aflatoxin) from NCSU Plant Pathology Extension
- 6. Prevention and control Properstorage after drying of food grains. Moisture content should be kept below 10%. Contaminated food should not be consumed. Educate the local population on health hazard and consuming contaminated food grains.
- 7. ERGOT TOXINS Ergotoxin is obtain from ergot (Claviceps purpurea) Unlike Aflatoxin Ergot toxin is a field fungus and not storage fungus Food grains such as bajra, rice and wheat have tendency to get infested during flowering stage by this fungus It grows as a blackish mass and the seeds become black and irregular Easily seen as black growth on the grain kernels when enough fungal growth is present.
- 8. Claviceps purpurea (Ergot toxin) Infected rye grains Ergot bodies Black mass
- 9. Cont.… • Highly moleculestable also heat stable. • withstands long storage, withstands brewing processes and withstands boiling. • Symptoms Acute: Flu like symptoms, seizures, mental confusion and hallucinations (24-48 hrs). Chronic: limb paralysis, dry gangrene due to vasoconstriction and can lead to death.
- 10. Prevention and control •Ergot infested grains can be easily removed by floating them in 20% salt water. • Most wheat seed planted in the U.S are genetically engineered to be resistant to this mould. • Use substances to prevent the growth of moulds ammonia, propionic acid, chlorine vapours, sorbic acid.
- 11. Endemic Ascites Itis caused by weed seeds of crotalaria(jhunjhunia). Panicum miliare(Gondhli) which gets contaminated with these seeds. Jhunjhunia seeds found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are hepatotoxins. Epidemiology The overall mortality is 40%. In 1973 and 1976 an outbreak of rapidly developing ascites and jaundice was reported in Nagesia tribal.
- 12. Panicum Miliare (causes Endemicascites) Panicum affecting crops Panicum seeds Ascites
- 13. Prevention and control Educating people in affected area about the disease. Seeds of Jhunjhunia are smaller than those of millet. Deweeding of jhunjhunia plants which grow along with staples and simple sieving of millet (at household level). Jhunjhunia Seeds Millet seeds
- 14. Fusarium Toxins Fusariumspecies of field fungi are known to contaminate food crops like wheat, maize, Rice, under high moisture condition during harvest. Problem of fusarium contamination of sorghum is believed to be on the increase. Symptoms: Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Vomiting, fever, chills, myalgia, bone marrow depression leading to granulocytopenia.
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- 16. Prevention And Control Croprotation and soil tillage are recommended to control plant contamination with fusarium toxin. As the contamination by fusaria is most likely during the crop flowering stage at the time of spore release, earlier planting dates in temperate areas will often result in lower contamination. Use of the crop varieties resistant to fusarium is another strategy to control toxin production.