Pena-Shokier Syndrome: A Case Report

Mycotoxins are the secondary metabolites, produced by filamentous fungi and cause toxic response when ingested by higher animals. Cereal grain may be contaminated by mycotoxins by the fungi growing on plants as pathogens or associated with post-harvest transportation and storage. Temperature and water activity have boosted the growth and development of fungi in stored seed/grains. Detection and control of fungi is a continuous concern since the fungi can become established and remain with the commodity anywhere along the production, storage, transportation and consumption. Mycotoxins are toxic by product of mould infestations affecting as much as one fourth global food and feed output. Food grains contaminated with mycotoxins particularly aflatoxins, a subcategory can cause fatal acute illness and associated with increased cancer risk. Although, a few fungal strain are toxigenic under the natural conditions, and about 30 % isolates of Aspergillus flavus and A. terreus are capable of elaborating aflatoxins on suitable substrate such as sorghum and wheat grains. Developing countries like India, where a large population survive below poverty line are likely to require modern technology and economic support to implement these strategies and increase awareness among the farmers, traders and consumers, which would minimize mycotoxins contamination and adopt good agricultural practices (GAPs), good trader practices (GTPs) and good consumer practices (GCPs).