title: [Mycotoxin research in humans].
abstract: This study investigates the occurrence of aflatoxins in Ecuador. Early investigators proved the presence of aflatoxins in human and animal food, but the disturbing data lead to the formation of two research teams at Guayaquil University and the Agrarian University of Ecuador to investigate aflaxotins and other mycotoxins in food and their relationship to human health. Because the concept of mycotoxicosis as a result of the secondary metabolites produced by different species of moulds could cause different clinical patterns, the research team includes Aspergillus metabolites found in the urine of a patient with pulmonary aspergilloma. We considered that the body itself could create secondary metabolites. An ELISA method was used to detect mycotoxins with the specific reactive compounds using a company base assay. This allows the detection quantitative of such metabolites in 24 h collected urine. The patient was treated with itraconazole for nine months, after clinical, radiological and aflatoxins testing. We also investigated three other cases in children with a second level of malnutrition and only with vomitoxins results and in three investigated cases of otomycosis caused by Aspergillus niger only in one case traces of aflatoxins were found.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Parasitarias y por Hongos CIDRALAS S.A., Cátedra de Micología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador. rlazo@cidralas.med.ec
authors.forename: Ramón F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lazo
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sierra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D015651:Mycotoxicosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012424:Rural Population; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000652:urine; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D014255:Trichothecenes; D015025:Zearalenone; C007262:deoxynivalenol