Detection of mycotoxins in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Toxins (Basel). 2013 Apr 11;5(4):605-17. doi: 10.3390/toxins5040605.

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, exposure to mycotoxin producing mold has been recognized as a significant health risk. Scientific literature has demonstrated mycotoxins as possible causes of human disease in water-damaged buildings (WDB). This study was conducted to determine if selected mycotoxins could be identified in human urine from patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Patients (n = 112) with a prior diagnosis of CFS were evaluated for mold exposure and the presence of mycotoxins in their urine. Urine was tested for aflatoxins (AT), ochratoxin A (OTA) and macrocyclic trichothecenes (MT) using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). Urine specimens from 104 of 112 patients (93%) were positive for at least one mycotoxin (one in the equivocal range). Almost 30% of the cases had more than one mycotoxin present. OTA was the most prevalent mycotoxin detected (83%) with MT as the next most common (44%). Exposure histories indicated current and/or past exposure to WDB in over 90% of cases. Environmental testing was performed in the WDB from a subset of these patients. This testing revealed the presence of potentially mycotoxin producing mold species and mycotoxins in the environment of the WDB. Prior testing in a healthy control population with no history of exposure to a WDB or moldy environment (n = 55) by the same laboratory, utilizing the same methods, revealed no positive cases at the limits of detection.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aflatoxins / metabolism
  • Aflatoxins / toxicity
  • Aflatoxins / urine
  • Aged
  • Construction Materials / microbiology*
  • Environmental Illness / chemically induced*
  • Environmental Illness / metabolism
  • Environmental Illness / urine
  • Environmental Microbiology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Family Health
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / chemically induced*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / metabolism
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / urine
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fungi / growth & development
  • Fungi / isolation & purification*
  • Fungi / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mycotoxins / metabolism
  • Mycotoxins / toxicity*
  • Mycotoxins / urine
  • Ochratoxins / metabolism
  • Ochratoxins / toxicity
  • Ochratoxins / urine
  • Trichothecenes / metabolism
  • Trichothecenes / toxicity
  • Trichothecenes / urine
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Aflatoxins
  • Mycotoxins
  • Ochratoxins
  • Trichothecenes
  • ochratoxin A