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The
ochratoxins are a group of closely related fungal metabolites
produced by various species of Aspergillus ochraceus as well
as by Penicillium viridicatum and certain other
Penicillium species. Ochratoxin-A is the most toxic of the
ochratoxins and is produced in highest yield. Ochratoxin-A causes
necrosis of the renal tubular epithelium of the kidney and of
periportal liver cells with accompanying enteritis. Ochratoxin has
been detected in commercial corn and barley, in feed grains, in
dried white beans, mouldy peanuts, green coffee beans and in wine
from grapes derived from particular areas. It also has been found in
barley and oats associated with swine nephropathy and in tissues of
these swine. Recently Maximum Levels (MLs) for Ochratoxin-A have
been established in Europe legally. Depending on the products, the
MLs vary from 3 to 10
µg/kg
(ppb). In the Ochratoxin-A EIA-kit of Euro-Diagnostica an antiserum
is used that cross-reacts with ochratoxin-A (100%) and with
ochratoxin-B (9.3%). No cross-reactivity with coumarin and
4-hydroxycoumarin was observed. The limit of detection for
Ochratoxin-A is 0.5
µg/kg
(ppb). |
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