Mycotoxins and Mycotoxicosis in Tunisia: What do We Know and What Do We Need to Know?

Autor: L. Ghedira-Chekir, A. Chenf, Ee. Creppy, Hassen Bacha, Abdellatif Achour, S. Abid, Khira Maaroufi
Rok vydání: 1999
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews. 18:245-262
ISSN: 0731-3837
Popis: Mycotoxins and the pathologies they induce are becoming a world-wide preoccupation and a cause of serious economic and sanitary problems. Tunisia is also concerned, due to its climate, geographic situation, and the social and economic conditions of the population. Many data, including our own, have previously implicated several mycotoxins in specific and severe pathologies. In Tunisia a clear cut correlation has been found between the consumption of food contaminated by toxigenic fungi and specific pathologies. Clinical and laboratory-based studies performed in our laboratory provide a mechanistic explanation for the toxic effects of some mycotoxins. Our interest was focused on two mycotoxins: Ochratoxin A and Zearalenone, which are widely found in Tunisia, contaminating various supports of human and animal food chain. Ochratoxin A (OTA), is the main causal agent of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. We hereby bring evidence that this pathology no longer concerns only Balkans. Tunisia appears to be a second hot ...
Databáze: OpenAIRE