Molecular diagnosis of ochratoxigenic fungi

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins. Its presence in several agricultural commodities has been considered a problem worldwide. This toxin is mainly produced by two genera of fungi: Aspergillus and Penicillium. Ochratoxin A has nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, and carcinogenic effects; consequently, contamination with OTA presents a major risk for human and animal health. Over the last 5 years, several studies have developed PCR-based assays for identifying and quantifying OTA-producing fungi in food samples. The main objective of these assays is to allow the detection of microorganisms capable of producing OTA, prior to ochratoxin production and accumulation. Several of these attempts will be reviewed and discussed in this chapter. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.