Presence of Citrinin in Grains and Its Possible Health Effects

Abstract

Background: Citrinin is a mycotoxin produced by several species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Monascus and it occurs mainly in stored grain. Citrinin is generally formed after harvest and occurs mainly in stored grains, it also occurs in other plant products. Often, the co-occurrence with other mycotoxins is observed, especially ochratoxin A, which is usually associated with endemic nephropathy. At the European Union level, systematic monitoring of Citrinin in grains began with the aim of determining its highest permissible amount in food. Thus, far the systematic monitoring of the above mentioned mycotoxin in Croatia is yet to begin. Materials and Methods:The main goal of this study was to determine the presence of Citrinin in grains sampled in the area of Međimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem and Brod-Posavina County. For the purpose of identification and quantification of citrinin, high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) with fluorescence was used (Calibration curve k ≥ 0.999; Intra assay CV = 2.1%; Inter assay CV = 4.3%; LOQ < 1 µg/kg). Results: From the area of Međimurje County, 10 samples of corn and 10 samples of wheat were analyzed. None of the samples contained Citrinin (<1 µg/kg). From the area of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem County, 15 samples from each County were analyzed. The mean value for the samples of Osijek-Baranja County was 19.63 µg/kg (median=15.8 µg/kg), while for Vukovar-Srijem County the mean value of citrinin was 14,6 µg/kg (median=1.23 µg/kg). From 5 analyzed samples from Brod-Posavina County, one of the samples contained citrinin in the amount of 23.8 µg/kg, while the registered amounts in the other samples were <1 µg/kg. Conclusion:The results show that grains from several Counties contain certain amounts of Citrinin possibly indicating a significant intake of citrinin in humans. It must be stated that grains and grain-based products are the basis of everyday diet of all age groups, especially small children, where higher intake of citrinin can occur. Consequently, we emphasize the need for systematic analysis of larger amount of samples, from both large grains and small grains, especially in the area of Brod-Posavina County, in order to obtain more realistic notion of citrinin contamination of grains and to asses the health risk in humans.

Hepato nephropathology associated with inclusion body hepatitis complicated with citrinin mycotoxicosis in a broiler farm

“…The citrinin toxicity causes primary changes in the kidney characterized by severe degenerative and necrotic changes in the renal tubular epithelial cells causing severe diuresis A prominent finding recorded in the present investigation was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis wherein the affected glomeruli were swollen, hypercellular and there was eosinophilic homogenous material deposited around the glomerular tufts. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis has been reported in broiler chickens associated with IBH and citrinin toxicity [ 30 , 31 ]. Furthermore, neoplasia, autoimmune disorders, and persistent infections due to prolonged viral and bacterial stimulation can cause membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis [ 32 ].…”

“…It has been reported that glomerular lesions occurring in viral infection are mainly due to immune complex deposition [ 30 ]. In citrinin toxicity, inability to filtrate citrinin bound serum proteins and albumin leads to immune complex-induced nephritis [ 31 ]. Apart from citrinin induced nephropathology, citrinin is reported to be a potent immunosuppressive agent due to lymphocytolysis and a potent hepatotoxic agent [ 7 , 8 , 33 ].…”

Impact of Fungi Co-occurrence on Mycotoxin Contamination in Maize During the Growing Season

“…Few studies exist on fungal co-occurrence in maize during the growing season and they are limited to the definition of natural occurrence of different mycotoxins in maize without considering fungal presence and/or interactions under in field conditions (Kovalsky et al, 2016; Culig et al, 2017; Oliveira et al, 2017).…”

Development of Real-Time Immuno-PCR Based on Phage Displayed an Anti-Idiotypic Nanobody for Quantitative Determination of Citrinin in Monascus

“…However, subsequent animal experiments have shown that CIT has nephrotoxicity [5], hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenesis, and other negative effects on animal health, and CIT is therefore listed as a mycotoxin. The contamination of CIT is widespread and can occur in cereal agricultural products [6] and animal feed, such as wheat [7], barley [8], corn [9], rice [10,11], and cereal products [12]. In addition, its main producing strain, Monascus, produces a large amount of CIT during fermentation [13,14].…”