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Mycotoxins

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Physician’s Guide to Terrorist Attack

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Abstract

Mycotoxins are a diverse group of fungal secondary metabolites that most commonly affect humans through their association with food and feed crops. Hundreds of mycotox­ins have been identified throughout the world, and it is estimated that one-fourth of the world’s food crops are contaminated with fungi that potentially produce mycotoxins (1). This contamination may affect humans directly or indirectly through their economic effect on domesticated animals (2–4). Some of the most important mycotoxins include the aflatoxins, ochratoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, zearalenone, fumonisins, and tricho-thecenes (2,5–8). Of these substances, the trichothecene mycotoxins are the most likely agents to be used in biowarfare or bioterrorism, having been studied (and probably used) for this purpose in the past. The trichothecene mycotoxins, especially the one denoted T-2, pose a threat for potential use as bioweapons because of their ability to cause both lethal and nonlethal illness and their stability. These toxins may be harmful to humans by topical, inhalation, and oral routes and would probably be used in an aerosolized form. Topical exposure causes rapid skin discomfort and damage, a property that can help to rapidly distinguish T-2 exposure from that of other biological agents. Systemic disease may occur following skin, lung, or gastrointestinal absorption. Systemic illness may include rapid lethality or a subacute syndrome similar to that seen in radiation exposure. Because of the stability of these toxins, small-scale poisoning of food or water supplies is a possible alternate delivery method.

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as representing the position of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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Authors
  1. Duane R. Hospenthal MD, PhD, FACP
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Michael J. Roy MD, MPH, FACP

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Hospenthal, D.R. (2004). Mycotoxins. In: Roy, M.J. (eds) Physician’s Guide to Terrorist Attack. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-663-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-663-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9814-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-663-8

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