Ochratoxin A levels in plasma from inhabitants of northern Paraná, Brazil

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin produced by some fungi like Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus carbonarius and Penicillium viridicatum, is a natural contaminant of many foods worldwide. The intake of OTA is associated with deleterious effects to humans and animals, such as nephro-and hepatotoxicity. Although there are some data about food contamination, there is lack of data about human exposure to OTA in Brazil. Therefore, current research aimed to determine the level of human exposure to OTA and, additionally, identify possible associations with biomarkers of liver and kidney damage. OTA levels were evaluated in plasma samples from 149 individuals living in the state of Parana, Brazil, by indirect competitive ELISA using monoclonal antibody anti-OTA (cell line OTA. 7). Plasma levels of OTA, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea and creatinine were submitted to Pearson's correlation test. It was possible to measure OTA levels in 54.4% of the samples (mean 734 +/- 296 pg/ml; maximum 1,585 pg/ml), with an estimated daily intake of 983-1,445 pg/kg body weight. There was no correlation between OTA plasma levels and biochemical parameters, possibly due to the low level of contamination. This is one of the first studies concerning the contamination of humans by OTA in Brazil and we conclude that the plasma levels of the evaluated population indicate an estimated weekly intake below the tolerable weekly intake derived by the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain. Nevertheless, additional longitudinal studies with greater regional coverage and at different seasonal periods are necessary.