Exposure of infants to ochratoxin A with breast milk.

The nephrotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is a worldwide contaminant in food commodities and also found frequently in human biological fluids. Dietary contaminants ingested by nursing mothers can appear in breast milk. But the rate of lactational transfer of OTA has not been investigated so far at various stages of breastfeeding. Therefore, and to investigate OTA exposure of Chilean infants, we conducted a longitudinally designed study in mother-child pairs (n = 21) with parallel collection of maternal blood, milk and of infant urine samples over a period of up to 6 months. Validated analytical methods were applied to determine OTA concentrations in all biological samples (n = 134). OTA was detected in almost all maternal blood plasma, at concentrations ranging between 72 and 639 ng/L. The OTA concentrations in breast milk were on average one quarter of those measured in plasma (M/P ratio 0.25). Interestingly, a higher fraction of circulating OTA was excreted in colostrum (M/P 0.4) than with mature milk (M/P ≤ 0.2). Infants exposure was calculated as daily intake from our new data for OTA levels in breast milk, and taking into account milk consumption and body weight as additional variables: Chilean infants have an average intake of 12.7 ± 9.1 ng/kg bw during the first 6 days after delivery while intake with mature milk results in average values close to 5.0 ng/kg bw/day. Their OTA exposure is discussed in the context of tolerable intake values suggested by different scientific bodies. Moreover, the study design enabled a comparison of OTA intake and infant urine concentrations over the breastfeeding period. The statistical analysis of n = 27 paired values showed a good correlation (r = 0.57) for this type of studies and thereby confirms that urinary OTA analysis in infants is a valid biomarker of exposure.

Ochratoxin A in serum of swine from different Brazilian states.

The aims of the current study were to monitor the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the serum of slaughtered swine and to investigate its distribution in 4 major geographical regions of Brazil. A total of 400 samples of serum were collected from 4 major states of Brazil (100 samples each). Ochratoxin A concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. In Santa Catarina State, 60% of the samples had OTA concentrations ranging from 4.01 to 75.4 mg/l. In Mato Grosso State, 75% of the samples had OTA concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 46.79 mg/l. Bahia State samples had OTA concentrations ranging from 2.72 to 4.13 mg/l in 36% of the samples, whereas 68% of the samples from Rio de Janeiro State had OTA concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 115 mg/l. Only Santa Catarina State and Rio de Janeiro State had serum samples that exceeded 75 mg/l OTA in 20% and 2% of the samples, respectively. A direct relationship between the higher concentrations of OTA in serum from the States of Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro and the highest concentrations of OTA in food intended for animal consumption in the same 2 Brazilian states was found in the present study. Ochratoxin A distribution in foodstuffs is very heterogeneous, and an alternative method by which to monitor the presence of OTA in feed includes analyzing swine serum samples, which reflect the toxin content of the ingested feed. This strategy could prevent the occurrence of ochratoxicosis in animal production, reduce economic losses, and minimize hazards to human health.

Survey of Argentinean human plasma for ochratoxin A.

The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in human blood has been reported for many countries, especially in Europe. However, so far no report exists concerning such a presence in Argentina. The aim of this study was to assess OTA concentration in human plasma in two different areas of Buenos Aires province. OTA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 199 plasma samples from blood donors in Mar del Plata and 236 from General Rodriguez. Solid-phase extraction with Bakerbond C-18 cartridge and a final purification with Ochraprep immunoaffinity columns was employed. The limit of quantification of ochratoxin A was 0.019ngml(-1) and the confirmation of OTA was by formation of ochratoxin A methyl ester. The results showed that 63.8% of human plasma samples from Mar del Plata and 62.3% from General Rodriguez were positive for OTA, with Winsorized means of 0.15 and 0.43ngml(-1), respectively. It is important to continue the research to detect the foods responsible of the presence of OTA in plasma.

[Ocratoxin A in human plasma and coffee from Costa Rica by ELISA]. / Determinación de ocratoxina A en plasma humano y en café de Costa Rica por un método de ELISA.

Costa Rica is not an exception in the prevalence of ochratoxin A in human plasma, in this research the presence of the micotoxin was found in 95% of the 149 samples studied. The presence of ocratoxina A also was studied in 110 samples of toasted and grounded coffee from the most important 12 coffee factories of the country and from 7 supermarkets. With the exception of one negative sample the rest of them have concentrations of micotoxin below 4000 ng/kg. An association between the coffee consumption and the presence of ochratoxin A in plasma was attempted to be found as well as in the consumption of beer, but there were any statistically significant difference in the average level of mycotoxin between the coffee consumers and non coffee consumers neither between beer consumers and no beer consumers.

Determinación de ocratoxina A en plasma humano y en café de Costa Rica por un método de ELISA / Ocratoxin A in human plasma and coffee from Costa Rica by ELISA

Costa Rica no es la excepción en cuanto a la prevalencia de ocratoxina A en plasma, ya que en este estudio se obtuvo la presencia de la micotoxina en el 95% de las 149 muestras estudiadas. También se estudió la presencia de la ocratoxina A en 110 muestras de diferentes marcas de café tostado y molido de las 12 torrefactoras más importantes del país y de 7 supermercados. A excepción de una muestra de café que dio resultados negativos, el resto de muestras analizadas presentaron la micotoxina en cantidades menores a 4000 ng/L o kg. Se trató de encontrar una asociación entre el consumo de café y la presencia de la ocratoxina A en el plasma así como del consumo de cerveza, sin embargo no hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el valor promedio de la micotoxina entre los tomadores y no tomadores de café y tampoco entre los bebedores y no bebedores de cerveza.

Ocratoxin A in human plasma and coffee from Costa Rica by ELISA. Costa Rica is not an exception in the prevalence of ochratoxin A in human plasma, in this research the presence of the micotoxin was found in 95% of the 149 samples studied. The presence of ocratoxina A also was studied in 110 samples of toasted and grounded coffee from the most important 12 coffee factories of the country and from 7 supermarkets. With the exception of one negative sample the rest of them have concentrations of micotoxin below 4000 ng/kg. An association between the coffee consumption and the presence of ochratoxin A in plasma was attempted to be found as well as in the consumption of beer, but there were any statistically significant difference in the average level of mycotoxin between the coffee consumers and non coffee consumers neither between beer consumers and no beer consumers.

Preliminary study of Ochratoxin A in human plasma in agricultural zones of Chile and its relation to food consumption.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by different species of Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. The presence of OTA in human blood has been reported in many studies, especially in Europe, however none have been done in South America. In this study, 88 blood samples from healthy donors from two different Chilean agricultural zones were analyzed. In parallel with sample collection, the donors filled a questionnaire regarding food intake during the last three months. The blood samples were collected in Colbún in March and July of 2004 and in San Vicente de Tagua--Tagua in October of 2004. The extraction procedure was done in the solid phase with a Sep-Pak RP-18 cartridge and a final purification with immunoaffinity Ochraprep columns. The presence of OTA was confirmed by the formation of Ochratoxin A methyl ester. Fifty four percent of the samples collected in Colbún and 91% of samples from San Vicente de Tagua - Tagua were positive to OTA at ranges of 0.07-2.75 ppb and 0.22-2.12 ppb, respectively. The OTA levels in serum did not show a good correlation with normal dietary consumption.