19 - Molds Flashcards
Mycotoxins: _____________ which when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin can cause disease in humans and domestic animals, including birds.
fungal metabolites
Specific mycotoxins are produced by only ___________, usually a few species
specific fungi
T or F: a particular species of fungus may produce more than one mycotoxin
T
T or F: the presence of spores indicates the presence of mycotoxin
F
Mycotoxin production occurs only as a result of _________
fungal growth
Fungal growth and toxin production can occur at any point in the _________________
food production chain: growing, harvesting, drying, or storage
Mycotoxins are usually very ______ once formed and may persist in the food, even after processing destroys the fungi that produced them
stable
Molecular structures of mycotoxins ______ widely
vary
The effects of mycotoxins on health vary and include:
- neurotoxins
- teratogens
- nephrotoxins
- hepatotoxins
- immunosuppressive agents
- carcinogens
IMPORTANTLY, toxicity due to mycotoxins is almost never ______, effects are ___________ over a long period of time
acute
cumulative
T or F: the health effects of mycotoxins are among the most neglected areas in medical science
T
Name 5 mycotoxins:
- Aflatoxin
- Ochratoxin A
- Fumonisins
- Deoxynivalenol
- Zearalenone
Aflatoxin can cause _________ (Aflatoxicosis)
acute toxicity
Describe a typical aflatoxin outbreak:
India, consumption of contaminated corn, outbreaks occur when drought or famine cause exceptionally high levels of aflatoxins to be eaten at high-levels in substandard food
Name the 4 naturally occuring Aflatoxins:
- B1
- B2
- G1
- G2
- named based on their flurescence under UV light
When aflatoxins are ingested by lactating cows, they are excreted as aflatoxins ___ and ___
M1
M2
Aflatoxins are produced by (2):
- Aspergillus flavus
- Aspergillus parasiticus
Aspergillus flavus grows from _______
10-48C
What is the pH range of A.flavus:
2.1-11.2
The required aw of A.flavus depends on temperature, describe it:
A.flavus is better adapted to high temperatures so less water is required at higher temp and more water is required at lower temp
T or F: Pasteurization readily kills A.flavus cells
T
A.flavus is common in food crops in ______ and _____ temperate areas of the world
tropical
warm
A.flavus tends to be associated with peanuts, _________
corn and tree nuts (pistachios and Brazil nuts)
A.parasiticus is more _________ limited, its growth is associated with ________, and appears uncommonly elsewhere
geographically
peanuts