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Toxicology, biochemistry and pathology of mycotoxins
Fd ('..*met 7oxi~ol. Vo[ 18. pp, 84 to 91 Pergamon Prc~s Lid 1480 Printed in (}real Britain
Review Section REVIEWS OF RECENT P U B L I C A T I O N S
Mycotoxic Fungi. Mycotoxins. Mycotoxicoses. An Encyclopedic Handbook. Volume 2, Mycotoxicoses of Domestic and Laboratory Animals, Poultry, and Aquatic Invertebrates and Vertebrates. Edited by T. D. Wyllie and L. G. Morehouse. Marcel Dekker, Inc.. New York, 1978 pp. xxv + 570. Sw. fr. 230.00.
Toxicology, Biochemistry and Pathology of Mycotoxins. Edited by K. Uraguchi and M. Yamazaki, Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo, and John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1978. pp. viii + 288. £19.50. Following an initial volume concerned with the identification of fungi that produce mycotoxins, the chemistry of the toxic metabolites and the methods for their extraction, isolation and identification, Volume 2 of the three volume handbook cited above embarks upon a detailed consideration of the effects of a wide range of mycotoxins in animals. The authors of a general review of mycotoxicosis in a range of species including poultry point out that animals that fall ill as a result of eating food contaminated with fungi present the 'vet' with major problems in diagnosis. In a few cases, the toxins may be identified readily from the history of the outbreak and the clinical signs and pathological lesions, but in the rest the causative agent is far from obvious. Subsequent contributions deal systematically with the mycotoxicoses of cattle, sheep, horses, swine and poultry, enabling the reader .to obtain with ease an in-depth coverage of a particular speciality. The sections are cross-referenced to the causal fungi and to the specific toxins involved, and provide information on the pathology and clinical signs of each disease, as well as on its occurrence, control and treatment. The next major section reviews mycotoxicoses in laboratory animals, including the cat, dog, guinea-pig, hamster, mouse, non-human primate, rabbit and rat. Most of the information presented is derived from experimental studies, since among experimental animals there have been few clearly defined cases of spontaneously occurring disease due to mycotoxins. The final section in this volume deals with aquatic animals. Among the topics included are aflatoxininduced hepatomas in rainbow trout, and the less notorious sensitivity of brine-shrimp larvae and zebra-fish larvae to many of the mycotox{ns. The authors of this section reiterate the attributes that make the rainbow trout, which is highly sensitive to aflatoxin, a particularly suitable model for the study of liver carcinogens. These include a short latent period for tumour induction, drug-metabolizing enzyme systems similar to those in mammals, and low maintenance costs.
Like Volume 3, reviewed earlier (Cited in F.C.T. 1979. 17, 537), this book is a most useful source of reference for the research scientist, veterinary surgeon and toxicologist. The text is well laid out and is supported by clear photographs, a comprehensive glossary and an author and subject index. The second book named above offers a different approach Io the mycotoxin problem, presenting in turn contributions on mycotoxin research as applied to food contamination, the chemistry of mycotoxins, their toxicology and biochemistry and the types of change induced by different mycotoxins in various cells and tissues. The penultimate chapter reviews the field of fungal carcinogens, and finally a contribution concerned solely with aflatoxin looks into its occurrence in traditional Japanese foods and imported products. The contributors are all from Japan, a country 'where mycotoxin research has been well established for many years, and their surveys are concerned particularly with the role of mycotoxins in human health.
Side Effects of Drugs Annual 3---1979 A Worldwide Yearly Survey of New Data and Trends.. Edited by M. N. G. Dukes. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1979. pp. xvi + 469. Dfl. 120.00. This latest supplement to Volume VIII of Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs (Cited in F.C.T. 15, 241) follows the general pattern of its two predecessors. It covers all reports that were published between 1 August 1977 and 1,July 1978 and were considered to present significant new data on adverse reactions to drugs. In addition, some more recent papers have been included. The information is again indexed separately under drugs, synonyms and side effects, with each index covering all three supplements to Volume VIII. While most of the information presented relates specifically to drugs, other constituents of pharmaceutical preparations are included. Entries may be found, for example, on tartrazine and other colourings, polyethylene used in plastic surgery, cyclamate and other constituents of special diets, sunscreening agents and a variety of additives and vehicles, including propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, hexanetriol and ethylenediamine. If the original plan is followed, the next full volume of'Meyler' is likely to appear soon. However-the success of the "Annuals' project and the ease with which these supplements can be used have made the need for new volumes less urgent.
Review Section REVIEWS OF RECENT P U B L I C A T I O N S
Mycotoxic Fungi. Mycotoxins. Mycotoxicoses. An Encyclopedic Handbook. Volume 2, Mycotoxicoses of Domestic and Laboratory Animals, Poultry, and Aquatic Invertebrates and Vertebrates. Edited by T. D. Wyllie and L. G. Morehouse. Marcel Dekker, Inc.. New York, 1978 pp. xxv + 570. Sw. fr. 230.00.
Toxicology, Biochemistry and Pathology of Mycotoxins. Edited by K. Uraguchi and M. Yamazaki, Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo, and John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1978. pp. viii + 288. £19.50. Following an initial volume concerned with the identification of fungi that produce mycotoxins, the chemistry of the toxic metabolites and the methods for their extraction, isolation and identification, Volume 2 of the three volume handbook cited above embarks upon a detailed consideration of the effects of a wide range of mycotoxins in animals. The authors of a general review of mycotoxicosis in a range of species including poultry point out that animals that fall ill as a result of eating food contaminated with fungi present the 'vet' with major problems in diagnosis. In a few cases, the toxins may be identified readily from the history of the outbreak and the clinical signs and pathological lesions, but in the rest the causative agent is far from obvious. Subsequent contributions deal systematically with the mycotoxicoses of cattle, sheep, horses, swine and poultry, enabling the reader .to obtain with ease an in-depth coverage of a particular speciality. The sections are cross-referenced to the causal fungi and to the specific toxins involved, and provide information on the pathology and clinical signs of each disease, as well as on its occurrence, control and treatment. The next major section reviews mycotoxicoses in laboratory animals, including the cat, dog, guinea-pig, hamster, mouse, non-human primate, rabbit and rat. Most of the information presented is derived from experimental studies, since among experimental animals there have been few clearly defined cases of spontaneously occurring disease due to mycotoxins. The final section in this volume deals with aquatic animals. Among the topics included are aflatoxininduced hepatomas in rainbow trout, and the less notorious sensitivity of brine-shrimp larvae and zebra-fish larvae to many of the mycotox{ns. The authors of this section reiterate the attributes that make the rainbow trout, which is highly sensitive to aflatoxin, a particularly suitable model for the study of liver carcinogens. These include a short latent period for tumour induction, drug-metabolizing enzyme systems similar to those in mammals, and low maintenance costs.
Like Volume 3, reviewed earlier (Cited in F.C.T. 1979. 17, 537), this book is a most useful source of reference for the research scientist, veterinary surgeon and toxicologist. The text is well laid out and is supported by clear photographs, a comprehensive glossary and an author and subject index. The second book named above offers a different approach Io the mycotoxin problem, presenting in turn contributions on mycotoxin research as applied to food contamination, the chemistry of mycotoxins, their toxicology and biochemistry and the types of change induced by different mycotoxins in various cells and tissues. The penultimate chapter reviews the field of fungal carcinogens, and finally a contribution concerned solely with aflatoxin looks into its occurrence in traditional Japanese foods and imported products. The contributors are all from Japan, a country 'where mycotoxin research has been well established for many years, and their surveys are concerned particularly with the role of mycotoxins in human health.
Side Effects of Drugs Annual 3---1979 A Worldwide Yearly Survey of New Data and Trends.. Edited by M. N. G. Dukes. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1979. pp. xvi + 469. Dfl. 120.00. This latest supplement to Volume VIII of Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs (Cited in F.C.T. 15, 241) follows the general pattern of its two predecessors. It covers all reports that were published between 1 August 1977 and 1,July 1978 and were considered to present significant new data on adverse reactions to drugs. In addition, some more recent papers have been included. The information is again indexed separately under drugs, synonyms and side effects, with each index covering all three supplements to Volume VIII. While most of the information presented relates specifically to drugs, other constituents of pharmaceutical preparations are included. Entries may be found, for example, on tartrazine and other colourings, polyethylene used in plastic surgery, cyclamate and other constituents of special diets, sunscreening agents and a variety of additives and vehicles, including propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, hexanetriol and ethylenediamine. If the original plan is followed, the next full volume of'Meyler' is likely to appear soon. However-the success of the "Annuals' project and the ease with which these supplements can be used have made the need for new volumes less urgent.