Crystalline ochratoxin A was administered to bacon pigs for one month. After termination of toxin exposure the pigs were slaughtered at different intervals and analyses for ochratoxin A residues in four tissues were conducted. Kidneys contained the highest concentrations, and fat the lowest, at each interval. Ochratoxin A disappeared from muscles and fat after 2 weeks, from liver after 3 weeks,...

The opposing effect of ascorbic acid against ochratoxin induced perturbations in some haematological and biochemical parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was investigated. This study was carried out to evaluate the ability of a minimum level (500 mg/ kg diet) of vitamin C to counteract the toxicity of two levels of ochratoxin (400 and 600 μg/ kg diet). Nile tilapia (5060 g/ fish) ...

We evaluated the role of exposure analysis in assessing whether ochratoxin A or aristolochic acid are the agents responsible for causing Balkan endemic nephropathy. We constructed a framework for exposure analysis using the lessons learned from the study of endemic goiter within the context of an accepted general model. We used this framework to develop an exposure analysis model for Balkan end...

Spores from the toxigenic organism Aspergillus ochraceus NRRL-3174 were exposed to specific levels of gamma irradiation and then allowed to germinate on selected media. Increases in ochratoxin A production by irradiated, compared to non-irradiated, spores were observed after inoculation of spores onto a cracked red wheat or into a synthetic liquid medium. Variations in daily ochratoxin producti...

The present study was carried out to evaluate the spermatotoxic effect of ochratoxin and it's amelioration by Emblica officinalis aqueous extract. When male albino mice were treated with ochratoxin (50 and 100 microg/0.2 mL of olive oil/animal/day for 45 days, orally) alterations in various reproductive parameters were observed (sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and fertility rate), ...

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate a liquid chromatographic (LC) method with immunoaffinity column cleanup for determination of ochratoxin A. The method was tested at 3 concentration levels of ochratoxin A in barley, which represent possible future European regulatory limits. The test portion was extracted with acetonitrile-water by blending at high speed. The extract was filtered,...

Ochratoxins are polyketide derived fungal secondary metabolites with nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, teratogenic, and carcinogenic properties. Ochratoxin-producing fungi may contaminate agricultural products in the field (preharvest spoilage), during storage (postharvest spoilage), or during processing. Ochratoxin contamination of foods and feeds poses a serious health hazard to animals and hum...

Biosynthesis of ochratoxin A by Aspergillus ochraceus Wilh. was investigated by radiolabeling experiments in which phenylalanine-1-(14)C and sodium acetate-2-(14)C were supplied to the fungus in sucrose-yeast extract medium. Results showed that phenylalanine was incorporated unaltered into the phenylalanine moiety of ochratoxin A, whereas the isocoumarin moiety of ochratoxin A was mostly derive...

The present investigation was an attempt to study ameliorative effect of Emblica officinalis aqueous extract on ochratoxin-induced toxicity on DNA, RNA and protein contents in liver and kidney of mice. Adult male albino mice were orally administered with 50 and 100 microg of ochratoxin/0.2 mL of olive oil/animal/day for 45 days. The results revealed significant (p < 0.05), dose-dependent decrea...

It has previously been shown that the biosynthesis of the mycotoxins ochratoxin A and B and of citrinin by Penicillium is regulated by light. However, not only the biosynthesis of these mycotoxins, but also the molecules themselves are strongly affected by light of certain wavelengths. The white light and blue light of 470 and 455 nm are especially able to degrade ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B and...