Food Diagnostics - Mycotoxin

Alfatoxin are amongst the most poisonous mycotoxin and they are produced by molds e.g. Aspergillus flavus and A. Parasiticus which grow in soil and decaying vegetation and crops like corn, peanuts, spices, oilseeds, tree nuts. They can also be found in milk that are produced from animals fed with these toxin. Large doses can lead to acute poisoning, damage DNA and cause cancer especially liver cancer in humans.

Ochratoxin is produced by some species of aspergillus and penicillium. Commonly contaminated foods are cereals, wine, coffee, dry vine fruits, grape juice, spices and liquorice. This toxin can cause kidney damage, cancer, fetal development, and damage the immune system.

Patulin is produced by molds such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Byssochlamys. They are commonly found in apples, moldy fruits, grains and other foods. They cause liver, kidney, spleen and damage the immune system.

Fusarium Fungi produces a range of toxin in the class trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, as well as zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins. DON and ZEN are often associated with wheat, T-2 and HT-2 toxins with oats, and fumonisins with maize (corn). Trichothecenes can be acutely toxic to humans, causing rapid irritation to the skin or intestinal mucosa and lead to diarrhea. Reported chronic effects in animals include suppression of the immune system. ZEN has been shown to have hormonal, estrogenic effects and can cause infertility at high intake levels, particularly in pigs. Fumonisins have been related to oesophageal cancer in humans, and to liver and kidney toxicity in animals.

High concentrations of shell fish toxins can accumulate in many marine filter feeders such as clams, mussels and oysters. There are four syndromes are usually caused by shell fish poisoning I.e. Paralytic Shell Fish Poisoning (PSP), Diarrhetic Shell Fish Poisoning (DSP), Neurotic Shell Fish Poisoning (NSP) and Amnesic Shell Fish Poisoning (ASP). The Polyether Toxin Okadaic Acid and its Analogues Dinophysistoxin DTX1, DTX2, DTX3 causes DSP. The Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 states that live mollusks must not contain Okadaic Acid and/or its equivalents like Dinophysistoxin and Pectenotoxins, of more than 160 µg per kilo. The Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 states that mollusks must contain PSP toxins. Saxitoxin and its Analogues of more than 800µg per kg.

In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 stipulates that live bivalve mollusks must not contain PSP toxins (Saxitoxin and Analogues) in total quantity (measured in the whole body or any part edible separately) that exceeds a limit of 800 μg per kilogram.

EuroProxima Okadiac Acid Test Kit is a competitive test kit for quantification of the acid. The format is a 96 wells microtiter plate. Other test kits available are for Saxitoxin, Tetrodotoxin and Domoic Acid.