Microbiological Diagnostics: Test Objects and Stages
The diagnosis of mycotoxicoses is based on the indication of mold fungi or the detection of their metabolic products—mycotoxins.
In laboratory practice, specialists collect the following as test materials:
- Various harvested crop yields.
- Food products intended for human consumption.
- Agricultural feed.
- Various raw materials of animal origin.
The laboratory testing process is strictly regulated and divided into two key stages. The first stage involves the extraction of the mycotoxin from the collected sample using organic solvents. Following successful extraction, the second stage begins: the direct identification of the isolated toxin using specialized methods.
Methods for Mycotoxin Identification
After extracting the toxin from the substrate, its nature must be accurately determined. A complex of laboratory methods is used for this, divided into three major groups:
- Physicochemical methods. These form the basis of instrumental detection and include various modifications of chromatography and spectrophotometry.
- Biological methods (bioassays). This approach evaluates the toxicity of the isolated material using living test objects, such as:
- Chicken embryos.
- Isolated cell cultures.
- Laboratory animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs).
- Birds (most commonly ducklings and pigeons).
- Sensitive microorganism strains.
- Immunological methods. Based on specific antigen-antibody reactions, this group includes radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the widely used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Principles of Treatment in Mycotoxicoses
Therapeutic measures for poisoning by fungal metabolites have clear clinical boundaries. Notably, treatment is exclusively symptomatic.
The main focus of therapy is immediate detoxification of the body. To rapidly remove toxic substances from the digestive tract and systemic circulation, the following procedures are performed:
- Thorough gastric lavage.
- Artificial bowel cleansing.
- Other available medical interventions aimed at the accelerated elimination of mycotoxins from the patient's body.
Prevention and Sanitary Control
Preventing the development of mycotoxicoses is significantly easier than treating their consequences. Primary prevention serves as the foundation of safety, aiming to prevent the initial contamination of food and feed with mold spores, as well as to inhibit their growth and toxin production.
The second critical level of defense is strict sanitary control, which includes:
- Mandatory laboratory testing of all suspicious products for toxicity.
- Strict compliance with established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various types of mycotoxins.
The global target indicator for all preventive measures is ensuring the complete absence of mycotoxins in human food and animal feed.