A STUDY OF AFLATOXIN IN PEDIATRIC CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES

Abstract

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring carcinogenic and toxic compound found in many agricultural commodities. Two molds that are major producers of aflatoxin arc Aspergillus fluvus and A. parasiticus. These fungi can be found virtually everywhere in the world. They are soilborne, but like to grow on high nutrient seeds .(Sherlok and Dooley 1997). It has been linked to a variety of healthproblems inboth humans and animals. Their toxins are produced pre-harvest in the field, and post-harvest in storage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a maximum allowable level of total aflatoxins at 20 parts per billion (ppb). Commodities used for human and animal consumption must be tested to ensure that aflatoxin levels are below this number. The foreign markets regularly inspect loads and reject commodities with levels higher than 4 to 15(ppb) (Thomas et al., 1998) In humans, studies of individual biomonitoring of AFB] metabolites such as AFB}-N7-guanine have demonstrated that aflatoxins constitute an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in exposed populations. Some of these studies also show a synergistic action between aflatoxins and the hepatitis B virus in the development of human HCC. (de Oliveira ,1997) Aflatoxin was found to be a cause of Reye's syndrome producing steatosis and necrosis (Weiman et al,1985). A similar lesion of Thailand children has been ascribed to aflatoxin and has been produced in monkeys by aflatoxin (Bourgesois et al, 1971). The role of aflatoxinf the productlon of cirrhosis in humans remains inconclusive, although probable in some settings (Zimmerman, 1999). Apart from hepatocellular carcmoma and acute hepatic encephalopathy caused by aflatoxins, other liver diseases may occur such as hepatitis leading to hepatic fibrosis, affecting age ranges from 4 to6 years, and juvenile cirrhosis afefcting age group around 5 years (Amla et al, 1971).