Mycotoxins produced by molds are common contaminants of many important crops, including wheat, corn, rice, and peanuts. Some mycotoxins are found in fruits and vegetables. These contaminants have a broad range of toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. The occurrence of mycotoxins in foods is an unavoidable worldwide problem. About 80 countries have imposed regulatory limits to minimize human and animal exposure to mycotoxins. Regulatory limits, including international standards, have tremendous economic impact and must be developed using science-based risk assessments. The purpose of Mycotoxin Protocols is to provide the scientific and technological basis for analytical methods for use in obtaining the exposure data needed for risk assessments. Mycotoxin Protocols is divided into four sections, which are interc- nected. The first section: Chapters 1–5 describe the general techniques for mycotoxin analysis with emphasis on the importance of method validation based on statistical parameters; sampling procedures for collecting a sample as representative as possible of a bulk lot; the isolation of mycotoxins for use as analytical standards or for toxicological studies; the evaluation of purity and preparation of standards; and the detection and identification of impu- ties in isolated mycotoxins. Sections 2–4: Chapters 6–19 describe the most current chromatographic and immunochemical methods for studies on the major mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins produced by molds are common contaminants of many important crops, including wheat, corn, rice, and peanuts. Some mycotoxins are found in fruits and vegetables. These contaminants have a broad range of toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. The occurrence of mycotoxins in foods is an unavoidable worldwide problem. About 80 countries have imposed regulatory limits to minimize human and animal exposure to mycotoxins. Regulatory limits, including international standards, have tremendous economic impact and must be developed using science-based risk assessments. The purpose of Mycotoxin Protocols is to provide the scientific and technological basis for analytical methods for use in obtaining the exposure data needed for risk assessments. Mycotoxin Protocols is divided into four sections, which are interc- nected. The first section: Chapters 1–5 describe the general techniques for mycotoxin analysis with emphasis on the importance of method validation based on statistical parameters; sampling procedures for collecting a sample as representative as possible of a bulk lot; the isolation of mycotoxins for use as analytical standards or for toxicological studies; the evaluation of purity and preparation of standards; and the detection and identification of impu- ties in isolated mycotoxins. Sections 2–4: Chapters 6–19 describe the most current chromatographic and immunochemical methods for studies on the major mycotoxins.

This book is an outcome of the MycoGlobe conference in Accra. Most of the chapters are based on invited oral presentations made at the conference. The chapters in this book touch on issues including health, trade, ecology, epidemiology, occurrence, detection, management, awareness and policy. This book serves as a source of information on the occurrence and impact of mycotoxins on everything from trade and health to agricultural production in addition to suggesting opportunities for their management in Africa and elsewhere by researchers, policy makers and development investors.

This thorough volume explores the possibility of detecting and identifying toxigenic fungi, able to produce secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, which cause severe health problems in humans and animals after exposure to contaminated food and feed, having a broad range of toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Beginning with a section on fungal genera and species of major significance along with their associated mycotoxins, the book continues with sections on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based methods for the detection and identification of mycotoxigenic fungi, PCR-based methods for multiplex detection of mycotoxigenic fungi, as well as sections on combined approaches and new methodologies. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Mycotoxigenic Fungi: Methods and Protocols will aid researchers working in this vital field to provide insight into possible actions to reduce mycotoxin contamination of crop plants and the food/feed byproducts.

Adherence to regulatory limits for mycotoxins in agricultural commodities is important to safeguard consumers and to permit trade in affected commodities across international borders. Reliable estimates of mycotoxin concentrations are required to implement regulatory decisions on the suitability of lots of produce for consumption or trade. Effective schemes to test for mycotoxins depend not only upon sound analytical methods, but also on well designed and implemented sampling plans. This manual provides information to food analysts and regulatory officials on effective sampling plans to detect mycotoxins in food. The concepts of uncertainty and variability in mycotoxin test procedures are discussed as well as the importance of ensuring that samples are representative of the lot being sampled, and the consequences of a poorly designed sampling plan on the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins, possibly resulting in legal disputes and barriers to trade.

Climate Change and Mycotoxins highlights the importance of the continuous study of climate change impacts on mycotoxigenic fungi and their toxins in food and feed crops. Changing climate conditions across every geographical zone greatly affect rainfall, temperature and concentration of greenhouse gases leading to loss in yield and quality of food crops. In outstanding contributions, the authors compile current evidence on the influence of climate change on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in food crops pre- and postharvest and during storage of food and animal feed. The chemistry and biology of toxin production is revised and an outlook on control and prevention of the toxin's impact on food and animal feed is given. The editors recommend this book to mycologists, mycotoxicologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, toxicologists, physicians, veterinarians, nutritionists, the food and feed industries, legislators, analytical chemists, microbiologists, or students of these fields. • Unique compilation on the impact of climate change on mycotoxins based on observed trends over the last 10 years. • Special focus on the implications for food and feed safety. • Latest advances on prediction and prevention of mycotoxin threats to human and animal health. About the Editors Luis M. Botana Is a full Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Santiago, from 2004-2012 director of the Department of Pharmacology and former Fogarty Fellow at the School of Medicine of the Johns Hopkins University. He has been director of the European Reference Laboratory for Marine Toxins from 2004 to 2009. He is author of 25 international patents, over 300 scientific papers and editor of 10 international books. María J. Sainz Is an associate Professor of Agriculture and Forage Production and Conservation at the University of Santiago de Compostela. She has been a visiting scientist at the Rothamsted Experimental Station and for ten years head of the department of Plant Production. Her research interests focus on fungal pathogen detection and diagnostics, mycorrhizal fungi in crop protection and production, and mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins on forage crops and animal feed.

Mycotoxins - toxic secondary metabolites produced by mycotoxigenic fungi – pose a significant risk to the food chain. Indeed, they may be the most hazardous of all food contaminants in terms of chronic toxicity and legislative limits on their levels in food and feed continue to be developed worldwide. Rapid and reliable methods for the determination of both mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in food and feed are therefore essential. This book reviews current and emerging methods in this area.Part one focuses on the essentials of mycotoxin determination, covering sampling, sample preparation and clean-up and key determination techniques, such as chromatographic separation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and immunochemical methods. Part two then goes on to describe quality assurance, official methods and performance criteria for determining mycotoxins in food and feed. Topics covered include laboratory accreditation, method validation and measurement uncertainty. The development and analysis of biomarkers for mycotoxins are discussed in part three. Individual chapters focus on detecting exposure in humans and animals. Part four is concerned with the processes involved in determining mycotoxigenic fungi in food and feed. It also describes the identification of genes and gene clusters involved in mycotoxin synthesis, as well as DNA barcoding of toxigenic fungi. Finally, part five explores some of the emerging methods for mycotoxin analysis, ranging from bio-sensing to spectroscopic techniques.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Determining mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi in food and feed is a standard reference for all those concerned with reducing mycotoxin contamination in the food chain. - Focuses on the essentials of mycotoxin determination, covering sampling, sample preparation, clean-up and key determination techniques - Documents quality assurance and official methods and performance criteria for determining mycotoxins in food and feed - Explores the processes of determining mycotoxigenic fungi in food and feed including the identification of genes and gene clusters