Aflatoxins and Aflatoxicosis - 10 Pages
INTRODUCTION
Aflatoxins were initially isolated and identified as the causative toxins in Turkey X disease (necrosis of the liver) in 1960 when over 100,000 turkeys died in England (Asao, 1963). They are the most studied mycotoxins with over 5,000 research papers published through 2002. There are four generally recognized Aflatoxins, designated B1, B2, G1 and G2 (Figures 1 and 2). The metabolites, M1 & M2, which are found in milk (Thirumala-Devi et al (2002). The order of toxicity is B1 greater than G1, greater than G2, greater than B2. (IARC, 1976). However, Aflatoxin B1 is the major mycotoxin produced by most species under culture conditions (Ciegler & Bennet, 1980). Because of this and its toxicity, B1 is the most frequently studied of the four.
Aflatoxins are produced by different species of Aspergillus, particularly flavus, oryzae, fumigatus and parasiticus, as well as members of the Genera Penicillium and w El-Naghy et al, 1991; Searle 1976; Aflatoxins 2002) Strains of Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus produce mycotoxins under favorable conditions. Aflatoxins can contaminate corn, cereals, sorghum, peanuts, and other oil-seed crops. Thus, food contamination by this group of mycotoxins has been implicated in both animal and human Aflatoxicosis. In addition, inhalation of aflatoxins is associated with disease and injury in both animals and humans. Finally, aflatoxins are known animal carcinogens and have been