Mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis in Tunisia: What do we know and what do we need to know?

Mycotoxins and the pathologies they induce are becoming a world-wide preocc upation and a cause of serious economic and sanitary problems. Tunisia is a lso concerned, due to its climate, geographic situation, and the social and economic conditions of the population. Many data, including our own, have previously implicated several mycotoxins in specific and severe pathologies . In Tunisia a clear cut correlation has been found between the consumption of food contaminated by toxigenic fungi and specific pathologies. Clinical and laboratory-based studies performed in our laboratory provide a mechani stic explanation for the toxic effects of some mycotoxins. Our interest was focused on two mycotoxins: Ochratoxin A and Zearalenone, which are widely found in Tunisia, contaminating various supports of human and animal food c hain. Ochratoxin A (OTA), is the main causal agent of Balkan Endemic Nephro pathy. We hereby bring evidence that this pathology no longer concerns only Balkans. Tunisia appears to be a second hot spot of this disease in the wo rld. We have shown that zearalenone (Zen), adversely affected normal reprod uctive function of intoxicated animals. It produced modifications of haemat ological and biochemical parameters of hepatic function. Zen is also a cyto toxic and genotoxic toxin. Vitamin E was found to be a good preventive comp ound for the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Zen.