Ochratoxin

Ochratoxin is a type of mycotoxin that is produced by certain types of fungi, including Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is a secondary metabolite of these fungi, and is known to be toxic to humans and animals.

History

The discovery of ochratoxin was made in the 1960s, when it was isolated from Aspergillus ochraceus. Since then, it has been found in a variety of different environments and food products, including cereals, coffee, dried fruit, and wine.

Types

There are three main types of ochratoxin: Ochratoxin A, Ochratoxin B, and Ochratoxin C. Ochratoxin A is the most toxic and the most studied of the three.

Toxicity

Ochratoxin is known to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunotoxic, and carcinogenic. It is particularly damaging to the kidneys, and can cause nephropathy and even renal cell carcinoma. It is also thought to be a potential cause of Balkan endemic nephropathy, a disease that affects people in certain parts of Eastern Europe.

Exposure and Risk

Humans can be exposed to ochratoxin through the consumption of contaminated food products. The risk of exposure is higher in certain parts of the world, particularly in areas where food storage conditions are poor.

Prevention and Control

Preventing ochratoxin contamination involves controlling the growth of Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. This can be achieved through good agricultural and storage practices.

See Also

• Mycotoxin
• Aspergillus
• Penicillium
• Nephrotoxicity
• Hepatotoxicity

Ochratoxin Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski