Detection of trichothecene mycotoxins in sera from individuals exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum in indoor environments.
To date, no study has effectively demonstrated a direct human exposure to mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings. Therefore, the authors investigated the presence of trichothecene mycotoxins in sera from individuals exposed to indoor molds (specifically Stachybotrys chartarum). Sera from occupants of contaminated (test samples, n=44) and uncontaminated (control samples, n=26) buildings were analyzed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) highly specific for macrocyclic trichothecenes. Twenty-three samples were significantly different (p < 0.05) from normal human serum tested in the same manner, whereas only 1 of the control samples tested positive. Mass spectrometry analysis could not confirm the presence of intact S. chartarum macrocyclic trichothecenes. The authors hypothesize that this result was caused by uncharacterized ELISA-reactive metabolic breakdown products. Data from this study suggest that trichothecene mycotoxins can be demonstrated in the tissues of certain individuals exposed to S. chartarum in contaminated buildings.
Brasel
Trevor L
TL
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Health Sciences Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
Campbell
Andrew W
AW
Demers
Roger E
RE
Ferguson
Bruce S
BS
Fink
Jordan
J
Vojdani
Aristo
A
Wilson
Stephen C
SC
Straus
David C
DC
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013191:Stachybotrys / Q000737:chemistry / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D014255:Trichothecenes