Aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin are mycotoxins, which produce their immunotoxic effects by affecting nonspecific and acquired immunity in different species. The mechanisms of their immunotoxicity are still obscure. Cytokines are the key signaling molecules during the immune response. In this study, expression of macrophage-produced cytokines Interleukin-lα (IL-lα), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and IL-6, and lymphocyte-produced cytokines IL-2, interferon y (IFNy), and IL-3 was measured at the mRNA and protein levels, after in vitro activation with mitogens in AFB1-and T-2-toxin-exposed mice. Significant changes in the organ weights, especially in the mice exposed to a high dose of T-2 toxin, and no effect in AFB1-exposed mice were observed. ConA-induced production of IL-2, IFNy, and IL-3 mRNA and protein levels in AFB1-exposed mice showed a decrease in low dose groups (significant for IL-2 mRNA), but no change at other doses. However, in T-2-toxin-treated animals, there was a significant induction of IL-2 and IFNy mRNA in high and low doses and of IL-3 mRNA at the medium dose. The protein levels of IL-2 and IFNy did not follow the mRNA levels in high dose and the protein levels of IL-3 were significantly increased in medium and low doses. LPS-induced IL-lα and TNF mRNA and protein levels in AFB1-exposed mice were suppressed at the high dose while mRNA levels of both cytokines were increased significantly in the low and medium doses. Low and medium doses of AFB1 also significantly decreased IL-lα protein levels and the high dose decreased IL-6 protein. In T-2 toxin-treated mice, no significant difference in mRNA levels of these cytokines was observed but a general pattern of significant suppression of their protein levels (except IL-lα at medium dose) showed that both toxins regulate the cytokine expression differently. Based on the above discussed results and others, AFB1 may alter cell-mediated immunity by affecting the communication between macrophages and T lymphocytes through inhibiting the macrophage-producing cytokines. T-2 toxin-induced immunosuppression may be due not only to the inhibition of macrophage-producing cytokines, but also to the lack of effector cells to respond to the cytokines (IL-2, IFNy, and IL-3).

Thesis (D.Tech.: Biotechnology)-Dept. of Biotechnology, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xx, 175, [14] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm / Previous studies indicate that a mutation in the non-oncogenic p53 gene is epidemiologically linked to human HCC (Ozturk, 1991; Chan et al., 2003). Hsu et al. (1991) found this link in Chinese, South African and Asian patients and Hollstein et al. (1993) found the same gene mutation in Taiwanese patients. The incidence of these aberrations is reported to be about 20- 50% in HCC’s (Kishimoto et al., 1997). There is sufficient evidence to indicate that carotenoids in addition to their well known antioxidant properties (Paiva and Russel, 1999), also affect intercellular communication, immune responses, neoplastic transformations and growth control, and cellular levels of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens (Zhang et al., 1991; Brockman et al., 1992; Pryor et al., 2000). To date studies carried out have used the rat (Foote et al., 1970; Gradelet et al., 1998) and the mule duckling model (Cheng et al., 2001) to show the protective effect of these carotenoids against AFB1 exposure. Of the well known carotenoids, lycopene and beta- carotene occur in abundance in fruits and vegetables and are safe for human consumption. Aflatoxin B1 frequently induces mutations of the p53 gene which is linked to HCC. Although there is much evidence from epidemiological studies linking the beneficial aspects of carotenoids to the prevention of cancer, the cellular and molecular mechanisms need to be understood in order to implement large scale intervention strategies to prevent AFB1 induced carcinoma. The use of chemical or dietary interventions to alter the susceptibility of humans to the actions of carcinogens and to block, retard or reverse carcinogenesis is an emerging chemoprotective strategy for disease prevention (Abdulla and Gruber, 2000; Kensler et al., 2003; Bingham and Riboli, 2004). Chemoprotection by natural products involves maintaining cellular integrity, preventing DNA alterations, activation of p53 suppressor protein and apoptosis. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which beta-carotene and lycopene may prevent the AFB1-induced toxic changes in human hepatocytes. In order to achieve this aim, the following objectives were set out: i. To optimise an in vitro system for the evaluation of AFB1 damage to cultured hepatocytes. ii. To determine the biochemical protection offered by beta-carotene and lycopene to AFB1-exposed hepatocytes, by measuring the mitochondrial activity, cell viability and ROS levels using appropriate enzyme assays and flow cytometry. iii. To determine the cellular protection offered by beta-carotene and lycopene to AFB1-exposed hepatocytes, by studying the morphological changes at the structural and ultrastructural levels using phase contrast light and electron microscopy respectively. iv. To determine the molecular protection offered by beta-carotene and lycopene to AFB1-exposed hepatocytes, by detecting apoptotic bodies as genomic markers and measuring the levels of p53 protein and AFB1-N7-guanine adducts produced.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Please see fulltext for abstract / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien asb volteks vir opsomming

Thesis (MScAgric (Plant Pathology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. Includes bibliography.summary,list of figures and appendices. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp. are toxin-producing fungi associated with maize and groundnut. Fusarium verticillioides produces fumonisins in maize, and Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxins in maize and groundnut kernels. Both toxins are responsible for carcinogenesis in humans and animals. Contamination of maize and groundnut with mycotoxins is often most severe in rural areas where subsistence farmers are unaware of their existence and follow agricultural practices that might contribute to their production. A questionnaire was, therefore, compiled to investigate agricultural decisions in rural areas that may influence mycotoxin contamination of crops. During 2006 and 2007, maize and groundnut samples were collected in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces. Mycotoxin levels were quantified using the ELISA technique, and the incidence of Fusarium spp. in maize grain was determined by plating maize kernels out on Fusarium selective medium. Fumonisin-producing Fusarium spp. were also quantified using real-time PCR (TaqMan). The incidence of A. flavus and A. parasiticus in groundnut was determined by plating out kernels on potato dextrose agar. Fumonisin contamination levels in maize samples ranged from 0-21.8 parts per million (ppm) and aflatoxin levels ranged from 0- 49 parts per billion (ppb), depending on the region where samples were collected. Aflatoxin levels in groundnut ranged from 0-160.1 ppb. Fusarium verticillioides was the most common Fusarium sp. in maize followed by F. subglutinans and F. proliferatum, respectively. Regression analyses showed a positive correlation between fumonisin-producing Fusarium species when determined by real-time PCR and fumonisin concentration (r2=0.866). Regression analyses further showed a highly significant positive correlation between A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination (r2=0.10235). Samples from northern KZN contained levels of mycotoxins that were far in excess of the maximum levels set by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA. In South Africa there are currently no regulations with regard to the maximum allowable levels of fumonisin in human food. The high incidence of mycotoxin contamination of human food in subsistence farming systems indicates the need for awareness programmes and further research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fusarium spp. en Aspergillus spp. is toksien-produserende fungi wat met mielies en grondbone geassosieer word. Fusarium verticillioides produseer fumonisiene in mielies, terwyl, A. flavus aflatoksiene in mielies en grondbone produseer. Beide toksiene is karsinogenies vir mens en dier. Die vlakke van toksien-kontaminasie is meestal die ergste in landelike gebiede waar bestaansboere onbewus is daarvan. Landboupraktyke wat deur die boere toegepas word vererger dikwels die probleem. ‘n Vraelys is saamgestel om vas te stel watter landboupraktyke in landelike gebiede toegepas word, en hoe dit toksien-kontaminasie in mielies en grondbone beinvloed. In die 2006 en 2007 seisoene is mielie- en grondboonmonsters in Kwa-Zulu-Natal (KZN), die Oos Kaap, Limpopo en die Mpumalanga provinsie versamel. Toksien-vlakke is gekwantifiseer deur gebruik te maak van die ELISA tegniek. Die insidensie van Fusarium spp. in mielies was bepaal deur pitte op Fusariumselektiewe agar uit te plaat. Fumonisien-produserende Fusarium spp. was ook gekwantifiseer deur van kwantitatiewe PCR (TaqMan) gebruik te maak. Die voorkoms van A. flavus en A. parasiticus is bepaal deurdat mielie- en grondboonpitte op aartappel dekstrose agar uit te plaat. Fumonisien-vlakke in die mieliemonsters het gewissel van 0-21.8 dele per miljoen (dpm), terwyl aflatoksienvlakke gewissel het van 0-49 dele per biljoen (dpb), afhangende van die omgewing waar monsters versamel is. Aflatoksien vlakke in die grondboonmonsters het gewissel van 0-160.1 dpb. Fusarium verticillioides is die meeste vanuit mielies geisoleer, gevolg deur F. subglutinans en F. proliferatum. Regressie analises het ‘n positiewe korrelasie tussen fumonisien konsentrasie en fumonisien-produserende spp. aangedui waar daar gebruik gemaak is van die kwantitatiewe PCR (r2= 0.866). Regressie analises het ‘n hoogs betekenisvolle positiewe korrelasie getoon tussen A. flavus en aflatoksien kontaminasie (r2=0.10). Monsters van noordelike KZN het toksienvlakke bevat ver bokant die maksimum toelaatbare vlakke is soos bepaal deur die Food en Drug Administrasie in die Verenigde State van Amerika. Daar is tans geen regulasies in Suid Afrika wat die maksimum toelaatbare vlakke van fumonisiene in voedsel vir menslike gebruik bepaal nie. Die hoë voorkoms van mikotoksien-kontaminasie in bestaansboer-sisteme, dui die belangrikheid van verdere navorsing en bewusmakings-progamme aan.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Exposure to food contaminates such as mycotoxins have been associated with a variety of animal and human diseases worldwide. In South Africa, maize is the most To further refine risk assessment in the socio-demographic heterogeneous population of South Africa, the development and evaluation of a sensitive and interactive model the Mycotoxin Risk Assessment Model (MYCORAM) proofed to be more sensitive compared to the classical probable daily intake (PDI). The development of the MYCORAM was based on mycotoxin distribution during dry milling of maize in milling fractions intended for human consumption which was superimposed on the maize intake profiles of the South African population. Although dry milling, including a degerming step, is an effective way to reduce mycotoxins, risk and exposure assessment are influenced by maize dietary intakes, gender and ethnicity. This became evident when considering FB dietary exposure in rural maize subsistence farming communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa confirmed the vulnerability of this subpopulation to risk of fumonisin exposure. Specific maximum tolerated maximum levels (MTL) to safeguard these communities fall outside the international regulatory processes and need to be urgently addressed. With the complex nature of cancer development in mind, integration of basic science and nutritional epidemiology will be important to contribute to our understanding of the adverse effects of FB and to define relevant risk assessment parameters. important commercial grain crop not just economically but also as a local food commodity both commercially and in subsistence rural farming communities. In order to control and manage mycotoxin contamination in food, evidence-based risk assessment is needed that includes mechanistic and human exposure studies. From this perspective the current study was conducted and aimed in further unravelling fumonisin B1 (FB1) mycotoxin induced hepatocarcinogenesis via the disruption of the lipid metabolism. The study also critically evaluates aspects of human risk assessment due to its relevance and importance to food safety known to impact on food security. This entails mycotoxin distribution during maize dry milling and the assessment of mycotoxin exposure in the South African population and vulnerable rural communities at risk. Fumonisin B1 affects the integrity of biological membranes by altering key lipid and fatty acid parameter in plasma, microsomal, mitochondrial and nuclear subcellular membrane fractions in rat liver. Changes in the major lipid constituents entailing an increase in cholesterol (CHOL) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) whilst sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) tended to decrease. Isolated plasma membrane lipid rafts, from rat primary hepatocytes exposed to FB1 augments the intricate effects exerted on the lipid metabolism regarding CHOL, SM and PE. The disruption of lipid and fatty acid constituents, such as arachidonic acid and ceramide, are likely to be key determinants affecting growth regulatory signaling pathways relevant to the critical balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis during cancer promotion. These changes provide further evidence that FB1 induce cancer promotion by differential inhibition and/or stimulation process whereby a few resistant “initiated” hepatocytes proliferate in an environment where the growth of normal cells is inhibited. A specific lipogenic phenotype is effected by FB1 which is closely associated with cancer development and considered to occur via an epigenetic-type of mechanism. These effects are not adequately addressed in defining risk assessment parameters. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die blootstelling aan voedsel-kontaminante soos mikotoksienes word wêreldwyd met ‘n verskeidenheid van dierlike en menslike siektes geassosiseer. In Suid-Afrika word mielies as ‘n belangrike graanoes beskou, nie net vir die ekonomie nie maar ook as ‘n plaaslike voedselproduk beide kommersieel en vir bestaansboere in landelike gemeenskappe. Ten einde mikotoksien-kontaminasie van voedsel te kan beheer en bestuur, vereis bewys-gebaseerde risiko-evaluering wat insluit meganistiese en menslike blootstelling studies. Vanuit hierdie perspektief is die huidige studie uitgevoer en gemik op die verdere ontleding van die fumonisin B1 (FB1) mikotoksien geïnduseerde lewer-karsinogenese deur die ontwrigting van die lipiedmetabolisme. Die studie ondersoek terselfdetyd aspekte van menslike risiko-evaluering ingevolge die relevansie en belangrikheid hiervan in voedselveiligheid wat ook ‘n impak op voedselsekerheid sal maak. Dit sluit in die verspreiding van mikotoksiene gedurende die droëmaalproses van mielies en mikotoksien blootstelling in Suid-Afrika asook onder kwesbare landelike gemeenskappe. Fumonisin B1 beïnvloed die integriteit van biologiese membrane deur die modulasie van die belangrike lipied en vetsuur samestelling van plasma, mikrosomale, mitochondriale en kern subsellulêre membraan-fraksies in rot lewer. Veranderinge in die belangrike lipiedbestanddele, insluitende ‘n verhoging in cholesterol (CHOL) en phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), terwyl sphingomyelin (SM) en phosphatidylcholine (PC) geneig was om te verlaag. Geïsoleerde plasma membraan lipied vlotte (lipid rafts), vanaf primêre rot hepatosiete blootgestel aan FB1, versterk die ingewikkelde gevolge wat uitgeoefen word op die lipiedmetabolisme insluitende die voorgestelde veranderings in CHOL, SM en PE vlakke. Die versteuring van lipiede en vetsure soos aragidoonsuur (arachidonic acid) en ceramied kan beskou word as belangrike determinante wat inmeng in groei-regulerende seinbane verwant aan die kritiese balans tussen selgroei en seldood. Die versteurings verskaf verdere bewyse dat FB1 kanker bevorder deur ‘n seleksie proses wat onderskeidelike die onderdrukking en\of die stimulasie van ‘n paar weerstandige of geneties veranderde hepatosiete laat vermeerder in ‘n omgewing waar die groei van normale selle geïnhibeer word. Die spesifieke lipogeniese fenotipe wat FB1 versoorsaak hou ten nouste verband met kankerontwikkeling en die voorkoms van epigenetiese-soort meganismes word voorgestel. Hierdie oorsake word tans nie voldoende aangespreek tydens die bepaling van risiko-evaluerings limiete nie. Om risiko-bepaling verder te verbeter in die sosio-demografies heterogene populasie van Suid-Afrika, was die ontwikkeling en evalueering van ‘n sensitiewe en interaktiewe model, die “Mycotoxin Risk Assessment Model” (MYCORAM) meer doeltreffend vergeleke met die gewone waarskynlike daaglikse inname. Die ontwikkeling van die MYCORAM was gebaseer op die mikotoksien verspreiding tydens die droëmaalproses van mielies in fraksies wat vir menslike verbruik bedoel was tesame met mielie dieetinnames van die Suid-Afrikaanse populasie. Alhoewel, die droëmaalproses van mielies, insluitende die verwydering van die kiem doeltreffende maniere is om mikotoksienes te verminder, word risiko- en blootstellings evaluering beinvloed deur mielie dieetinnames, geslag en etnieseverbandskap. Hierdie was veral opmerklik gedurende blootstelling aan FB in die dieet van landelike mielie bestaansboer gemeenskappe in die Oos-Kaap van Suid- Afrika en bevestig hoe kwesbaar hierdie populasie is. Spesifieke maksimum toelaatbare vlakke om hierdie gemeenskappe te beskerm val buite die huidige internasionale regulatoriese prosesse en benodig dringende aandag. Met die ingewikkelde aard van kankerontwikkeling in gedagte, sal die integrasie van basiese wetenskappe en voedingsepidemiologie, ‘n belangrik bydrae lewer tot die kennis van die negatiewe eienskappe van FB om toepaslike risiko-evaluerings limiete te kan bepaal.

Thesis (DSc (Biochemistry))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / The fumonisin mycotoxins are known to be the causative principle for several animal diseases and are associated with the development of liver and oesophagus cancer and neural tube defects in humans. The thesis focuses mainly on the characterisation of the compounds from maize cultures of the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, isolated from maize, the toxicological effects in animals, mechanism involved in hepato- and nephrocarcinogenicity and discussing the major differences and contradictions in the literature together with their impact on setting relevant risk assessment parameters to safeguard human health. Controversies include the importance of non-genotoxicity vs genotoxicity in the development of cancer, the role of threshold effects in carcinogenesis and the establishment of realistic risk assessment parameters that will also be applicable in developing countries. Recent approaches suggest that thresholds should also apply for genotoxic carcinogens as interaction with the DNA is only one event in the multi-step process of cancer development and therefore could not be taken as the basis for applying a no-effect threshold for genotoxins. It would appear that a carcinogen such as fumonisin, whether it is labeled genotoxic or non-genotoxic per se, exhibits some degree of risk at any level due to additive or synergistic interactions with other xenobiotics and/or dietary constituents. The underlying mechanisms of fumonisin-induced carcinogenicity includes the disruption of sphingolipid, phospholipids and fatty acid metabolism, which plays a major role in the modulation of apoptotic and cell proliferative pathways related to cancer development. Interactive responses between arachidonic acid and ceramide affect downstream cell signal transduction pathways and depending on the cell type the disruption of these pathways could either stimulate or inhibit cell proliferation which eventually will determine the induction of apoptosis and hence affect cell survival. The modulating roles of dietary constituents such as vitamins, protein and the South African herbal teas are also highlighted as they affected the outcome of toxicological assays, thus determining thresholds of the adverse effects in specific target organs that will impact risk assessment parameters. Regulation of the fumonisins in food and the associated risk are debated from many perspectives. In developing countries there is a lack of quality control implying that maize highly contaminated with mycotoxins may directly enter the food chain of adults and children as control of mycotoxins is difficult or in some cases totally absent. The interaction of politics, economy and technology will eventually determine the impact on health as the regulation of fumonisin in food differs between countries. Knowledge about the biological effects of the fumonisins is currently playing an important role in the development of simple and inexpensive methods to reduce the levels of the fumonisin in maize by targeting specific populations at risk.

Les connaissances sur les risques liés à l'inhalation de mycotoxines restent limitées, alors que ces toxines, présentes au niveau des spores fongiques, peuvent atteindre directement les épithéliums respiratoires. Les enzymes du métabolisme des xéniobiotiques pulmonaires peuvent moduler la toxicité de ces mycotoxines en les détoxifiant ou en formant des métabolites plus réactifs. Notre objectif était d'étudier in vitro le métabolisme pulmonaire de la stérigmatocystine et de la méthoxy-stérigmatocystine, deux mycotoxines présentes dans les environnements contaminés par les moisissures, et de prédire les éventuelles conséquences toxiques. L'étude du métabolisme en présence de cytochromes P450 exprimés dans des systèmes hétérologues, puis dans un modèle de culture primaire de cellules épithéliales trachéales porcines, a montré que ces mycotoxines étaient oxydées, principalement par les cytochromes P450 1A, et conjuguées par glucucoridation et sulfo-conjugaison. Ces deux toxines semblent principalement détoxifiées au niveau pulmonaire. Si une activation métabolique de la stérigmatocystine est possible, celle-ci semble limitée / Human health effects of inhaled mycotoxins remains poorly documented, despite these toxins are present in fungal spores et can directly reach the airway epithelia. Xenobiotic metabolozing enzymes can modulate lung toxicity of these mycotoxins through detoxification or reactive metabolite formation. Our aim was to study in vitro the metabolism and the cellular toxic consequences of two mycotoxins present in mold-contaminated environments, e.g. sterigmatocystin and methoxy-sterigmatocystin. The metabolism studies using recombinant cytochromes P450 enzymes and porcine tracheal epithelial cell primary cultures, showed that these mycotoxins could be oxidized by cytochrome P450 1A and conjugated by glucucoridation and sulfo-conjugation. Sterigmatocystin and methoxysterigmatocystin seem mainly detoxified in respiratory cells. If a metabolic activation of sterigmatocystin is possible, it seems limited

The dissertation thesis deals with the problems of the use of plasma technologies in agriculture for the purpose of improving the quality of feedstuffs for agricultural animals. The attention is focused above all on the use of low-temperature gliding arc plasma discharge generated by the atmospheric pressure for the elimination of model fungal pathogens (T. virens) and for the testing of the possibility of the use of plasma for the decreasing of mycotoxin load (DON and D3G). The professional orientation of the dissertation thesis is strongly interdisciplinary with the overlap to the area of the physics of plasma, microbiology, zootechnics and the proposal and construction of technical facilities. With that corresponds also the division of thesis into individual chapters. In the research part, there is a summary of actual pieces of knowledge from the area of fungal microorganisms and mycotoxins produced by these with the view on their presence in feedstuffs. There follows a research of pieces of knowledge of low-temperature plasma and its applications in the food industry and feeding. In the chapter Material and Methodology, the applicated methods of work, employed instruments and biological material are described. The resulting part is, for its clear arrangement, divided into five subchapters ? stating of selected parameters of plasma device, influence of plasma on nutritional parameters, influence of plasma on the model fungus Trichoderma virens and possibilities of the use of plasma discharge for the decreasing of concentration of mycotoxins in feedstuffs. The final part is dedicated to the description of system which enables the treatment of samples in continuous regime. The treatment of mycelial discs by plasma discharge lead to the decrease of germination capacity of spores of fungi, while there was experimentally proven the synergic effect of the influence of individual mechanisms by which the plasma interacts with the surface of biological material. At the same time, there was not observed a more significant change in the composition of feedstuffs, more significant is only the change of humidity of sample. In the laboratory conditions, the decreasing of concentration of mycotoxins spread on laboratory glass was proven. At the samples of feedstuffs contaminated by natural way, it was not successful to reliably provedecreasing of concentration of mycotoxins in a sample as a result of plasma activity.

No description available.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a ocorrência de aflatoxina e fumonisina no sistema de produção de frango de corte e o impacto destas micotoxinas nos índices produtivos em uma empresa integradora localizada no Estado de São Paulo. Adicionalmente, foram identificados os principais fatores para a produção de micotoxinas em rações e a ocorrência de resíduos de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas em tecidos comestíveis de frango (músculo peitoral, fígado e moela). Foram realizadas as contagens de fungos e leveduras totais, de fungos dos gêneros Aspergillus ssp. e Fusarium ssp. e quantificação de aflatoxina e fumonisina nas principais matérias-primas da ração (milho e farelo de soja), na ração de abate e na cama de frango. O isolamento de fungos nas amostras de milho, farelo de soja e ração foi realizado em ágar DG18, enquanto que, para as amostras de cama de frango, utilizou-se o ágar PDA. Para a extração de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas, foram utilizadas colunas de imunoafinidade (Neogen®) e colunas SAX de troca iônica, respectivamente. A quantificação das aflatoxinas e fumonisinas foi realizada através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). O milho foi o alimento onde foi observada a maior frequência de Aspergillus ssp. e Fusarium ssp., e também maior positividade para aflatoxinas e fumonisinas, sendo que uma das amostras ultrapassou o limite de aflatoxinas recomendado pelo Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). As quantidades de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas encontradas na ração não influenciaram significativamente os índices produtivos. Não foram encontrados níveis detectáveis de resíduos de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas nos tecidos analisados. Embora não tenham sido observadas lesões macroscópicas no fígado e bursa das aves, foram constatadas alterações histopatológicas nessas vísceras, as quais são compatíveis com lesões causadas pela ingestão de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas. / The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of aflatoxin and fumonisin in poultry feed and their influence on poultry productivity at company located in São Paulo State. Supplementary, were identified the main factors that cause mycotoxin production in poultry feed and determine the occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins residues in edible parts of poultry (breast, liver and gizzard). The total mold and yeast counting of Aspergillus ssp. and Fusarium ssp. genus and quantification of aflatoxin and fumonisin were determined in the main feed ingredients (corn and soybean meal), in finishing diets and bedding. The fungi from corn, soybean meal and feed were isolated in DG18 agar, whereas, the fungi from bedding was used PDA agar. Aflatoxins and fumonisins, were extracted using an immunoaffinity column (Neogen®) and a SAX column, respectively. Aflatoxins and fumonisins were quantified by high performance liquid chromatografy (HPLC). The corn showed the highest frequency of Aspergillus ssp. and Fusarium ssp. and also the highest positivity for aflatoxins and fumonisins, there was one corn sample that exceeded the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. The levels of aflatoxins and fumonisins in the feed did not significantly influence productivity. There were not detectable levels of aflatoxins and fumonisins on analysed tissues. Although macroscopic lesions were not observed in liver and bursa, histopathological changes were observed in these organs, which are consistent with injuries caused by the aflatoxin and fumonisin consumption.