Role of some mycotoxins in inducing kidney diseases in upper Egypt

Abstract EN

Egypt has a climate that favors the growth of fungi specially those producing mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are found all over the world in human food and blood as well as in animal blood and tissues.

The most threatening effects are their nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

The aim of this study was to identify the role of some mycotoxins namely; ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisin Bi (FBi) in the occurrence of chronic renal disease of unknown aetiology in Upper Egypt. This study was carried out on 134 subjects who were classified as : 47 patients suffered from chronic renal failure of unknown aetiology before dialysis treatment (group A), 35 subjects who were relatives of patients in group A considering that they share them in the same environmental conditions (group B), 28 subjects working in the Middle Egypt Company (MEC) for grinding of cereals as an occupational risk group for exposure to inhalation of mycotoxins (group C) and 24 subjects with normal kidney functions as a control group.

They exposed to a detailed history, their occupation, family history and kidney function tests.

Indices of early kidney affection and levels of OTA and FBi in urine and serum for all subjects in all groups were also done. As regard group A, OTA was significantly increased while FBI was non-significantly increased in both serum and urine of patients compared to control group.

There was positive correlation between the levels of OTA in both serum and urine versus the level of blood urea.

It was found also that the patients with positive ochratoxicity had mild proteinuria. As regard group B, OTA and FBi were detected in urine and plasma, although with levels lower than that in group A but significantly higher than that of controls. As regard group C, OTA was found to be nearly equal to that in controls both in serum and urine which may indicate the low contamination levels of cereals in MEC due to good storage conditions.

However, FBi was found in serum to be insignificantly higher than that in groups A and controls.

Also FBi was detected in urine insignificantly lower than that in group A and insignificantly higher than that in controls.

Although the results were statistically non-significant but may indicate the increased risk of exposure to FBi in this group. We concluded that the presence of OTA and FBi in serum and urine of our control group may indicate the presence of these two mycotoxins as contaminants in the food in our locality.

Also, these toxins may play a role in inducing chronic renal diseases in our locality.

We advise ct continuous follow up for all subjects exposed to these toxins, giving instructions about ways for protection and treatment as well as good storage for cereals and foods.