Other moulds and mycotoxins

Several mycotoxins have been identified up to the present, but those of special interest in food and feed safety are: aflatoxins; fumonisins; ochratoxin A (OTA); patulin; trichothecenes; and zearalenone. This chapter focuses on the mycotoxins OTA, patulin, zearalenone, and some important trichothecenes, like deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin. OTA and patulin are mainly produced by species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, while zearalenone and the trichothecenes are mainly produced by species of Fusarium. Molecular studies are now providing useful data, which help clarify the identification and taxonomy of ochratoxigenic fungi. Such studies involve RFLPs of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, PCR-based techniques and phylogenetic analysis. The developed methods quantified with high efficiency fungal load in foods and could be considered as an appropriate tool to detect patulin-producing moulds in food products. Deoxynivalenol (DON) affects the immune response, and exhibits toxic effects in all animal species so far investigated.