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 preoccupation and a cause of serious economic and sanitary problems. Tunisia is also 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 mechanistic 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 chain. Ochratoxin A (OTA), is the main causal agent of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. 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 world. We have shown that zearalenone (Zen), adversely affected normal reproductive function of intoxicated animals. It produced modifications of haematological and biochemical parameters of hepatic function. Zen is also a cytotoxic and genotoxic toxin. Vitamin E was found to be a good preventive compound for the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Zen.