Fungus/Mold/Yeast

Mycotoxins are toxic, secondary metabolites produced by fungi commonly known as mold. They are neither infectious nor contagious. Inhalation of mycotoxin producing fungi in contaminated buildings is the most significant exposure. However, dermal contact from handling contaminated materials and the chance of ingesting toxin containing spores through eating, drinking and smoking is likely to increase exposure in a contaminated environment.

Mycotoxins are nearly all cytotoxic, disrupting various cellular structures such as membranes, and interfering with vital cellular processes such as protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. Of course they are also toxic to the cells of higher plants and animals, including humans.

Mycotoxins can appear in the food chain as a result of fungal infection of crops, either by being eaten directly by humans or by being used as livestock feed. Mycotoxins greatly resist decomposition or being broken down in digestion, so they remain in the food chain in meat and dairy products. Even temperature treatments, such as cooking and freezing, do not destroy mycotoxins. It has been suggested that mycotoxins in stored animal feed are the cause of apparent sex change in hens.

Most common Mycotoxins
Aflatoxins are a type of mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus species of fungi. Aflatoxin B1, the most toxic, is a potent carcinogen and has been directly correlated to adverse health effects, such as liver cancer, in many animal species. Aflatoxins are largely associated with commodities produced in the tropics and subtropics, such as cotton, peanuts, spices, pistachios and maize.

Ochratoxin is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species. It is found as a contaminant of a wide range of commodities including beverages such as beer and wine. Aspergillus is the main species found on vine fruit, which releases its toxin during the juice making process. OTA has been labeled as a carcinogen and a nephrotoxin, and has been linked to tumors in the human urinary tract.

Citrinin is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium and several species of Aspergillus. Some of these species are used in the production of foods such as cheese, sake, miso, and soy sauce. Citrinin is associated with yellow rice disease in Japan and acts as a nephrotoxin in all animal species tested. It is associated with many human foods (wheat, rice, corn, barley, oats, rye, and food colored with Monascus pigment). Citrinin can also act synergistically with Ochratoxin A to depress RNA synthesis in murine kidneys.

Ergot Alkaloids are compounds produced as a toxic mixture of alkaloids in the Claviceps species of fungi, which are common pathogens of various grass species. The ingestion of ergot sclerotia from infected cereals, commonly in the form of bread produced from contaminated flour, cause ergotism (the human disease historically known as St. Anthony's Fire). There are two forms of ergotism gangrenous affecting blood supply to extremities and also affect the central nervous system. Modern methods of grain cleaning have significantly reduced ergotism as a human disease, but it is still an important veterinarian problem.

Patulin is a toxin produced by the Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Paecilomyces fungal species. Penicillium is associated with a range of moldy fruits and vegetables, especially in rotting apples and figs. It is destroyed by the fermentation process and therefore, not found in apple beverages like cider. Although patulin has not been shown to be carcinogenic, it has been reported to damage the immune system in animals.

Fusarium toxins are produced by over 50 species of Fusarium fingi and have a history of infecting the grain of developing cereals such as wheat and maize. The mycotoxins they include are: the fumonisins, which affect the nervous systems of horses and may cause cancer in rodents; the trichothecenes, which are strongly associated with chronic and fatal toxic effects in animals and humans; and zearalenone, which has not been found to have fatal toxic effects in animals or humans. Some of the other major types of Fusarium toxins include: beauvercin and enniatins, butenolide, equisetin, and fusarins (all included in this Detox Remedy).

Results of mycotoxin exposure to multiple molds indoors may include:

• Increased vascular fragility, hemorrhage into body tissues, or from the lung
• Diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal hemorrhage, liver effects
• Respiratory distress, bleeding from lungs
• Tremors, lack of coordination, depression, headache
• Skin rash, burning sensation and/or sloughing of skin, photosensitization
• Urinary system disorders, nephrotoxicity
• Infertility, changes in reproductive cycles
• Immune system changes or suppression

Mucormycosis is a rare and opportunistic infection caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. These molds are widespread in nature, as they exist on soil, decaying vegetation, fruits, and seeds and are air dispersed.

Until now these organisms had been rarely seen in clinical practice and were paid very little attention. However, recent reports have demonstrated an increasing incidence of these opportunistic molds causing rapidly evolving infections in severely immunocompromised patients. The fungi invade blood vessels and cause mucormycosis, an acute, rapidly spreading and fulminant systemic mycosis (fungal disease). Rhinocerebral (nose and brain), lung, gastrointestinal and abdomen-pelvic, cutaneous and widespread forms have been reported. The mortality rate is very high.

Cutaneous lesions from Mucorales are due to traumatic implantation or secondly can spread via the bloodstream to the skin. Mucorales infection may result in plaques, pustules and abscesses or necrotic, ulcerated lesions.

Mucor contains an estimated 40 species. Members of the Mucor genus can be found living all over the world in a wide variety of environments, from the forest to the carpets of homes and businesses. In Northern Europe especially, Mucor species are ubiquitous indoors and can contribute to mold allergies in sensitive individuals. Some species cause diseases in humans, while others are known plant pathogens.

Fungi in this genus grow in the form of a white to gray mold which develops into a fluffy mass. The mold can grow on living and dead plants and in the soil. Mucor species are very aggressive and they will quickly overrun an environment, dominating other fungi. The mold grows and spreads quickly, making it difficult for slower-growing fungi to compete.

Given the ubiquitous nature of these fungi, most humans are exposed to these organisms on a daily or weekly basis. However, they rarely cause disease because of the low virulence of the organisms and instead mainly affect individuals with immunocompromising conditions. Immunocompromised hosts include the following: poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (especially with ketoacidosis), those receiving glucocorticosteroids, those who have neutropenia in the setting of hematologic or solid malignancy, who have undergone transplantation, who have iron overload, and who have burns are at risk for disease. The primary way of acquiring infection is via inhalation; other routes include ingestion and traumatic inoculation. When spores are deposited in the nasal turbinates, rhinocerebral disease develops; when spores are inhaled into the lungs, pulmonary disease develops; when ingested, GI disease ensues; and when the agents are introduced through abraded skin, cutaneous disease develops.

Microsporum ringworm, a fungus that causes a skin infection called ringworm, can pass from animals to people. It is characterized by skin lesions and small scaly patches that do not always form a circle, microsporum ringworm causes hair loss at the affected site. Ringworm mimics other skin infections, such as demodex, caused by a parasite. Seventeen species of Microsporum exist.

Pathogenic dermatophytes are parasitic fungi that share the ability to invade keratinized (do not have circulation, technically dead) structures such as hair, nails, and stratum corneum, causing superficial infections called dermatophytosis in both humans and animals. Microsporum canis is the main agent of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats but is also a frequent zoonotic agent, as shown by the increasing prevalence of human infections in many European countries.

Human infection occurs mainly by direct contact with infected cats, which are considered the natural hosts and the reservoir for Microsporum. The fact that cats can be asymptomatically infected (no sign of infection) enhances the risk for both human and animal contamination since they are responsible for occult and massive dissemination of fungal material into their environment.

Malassezia, otherwise known as Pityrosporum folliculitis (PF) is an inflammatory skin disorder that typically manifests as a pruritic (itching), follicular papulopustular eruption (pus filled blisters) distributed on the upper trunk of young to middle-aged adults. Yeasts, specifically Malassezia furfur, are the pathogenic agents in Pityrosporum folliculitis and have been linked to several skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, pityriasis versicolor, and atopic dermatitis.

Malassezia is part of the normal skin flora. In the U.S., Malassezia organisms can be found on the skin in 75-98% of healthy people, even higher numbers of the yeast are present on the chest and back. Colonization by M furfur begins soon after birth, and the peak presence of the yeasts occurs in late adolescence and early adult life, coinciding with increasing activity of sebaceous glands and concentration of lipids in the skin.

Pityrosporum folliculitis may be a bothersome condition, but the lesions are benign. Some underlying conditions that predispose the patient to Pityrosporum folliculitis include diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, and systemic candidiasis. Consider the presence of predisposing conditions when Pityrosporum folliculitis is diagnosed.

Histoplasma causes Histoplasmosis, a disease usually affecting the lungs, but can infect other parts of the body as well. The photo shows skin lesions caused by fungus.

Histoplasmosis is the most common endemic fungal infection diagnosed in the U.S. Histoplasmosis has also been named Ohio River Valley fever and bird-fancier's disease. And yet, about 90% of infections caused by Histoplasma produce no symptoms.

Occasionally, a few asymptomatic patients will show small scars in lung X-rays. Symptomatic people often develop fever, chills, dry cough, malaise, sweats, and abdominal pains about three to 14 days after exposure. If the disease progresses, symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain, and reduced or loss of vision may occur. A sign of progression are patchy infiltrates seen on chest X-rays, usually in the lower lung fields. Other symptoms that can occur, especially in patients that are immunosuppressed, are mouth ulcers, fevers, headaches, confusion, seizures, encephalopathy, and infrequently, death.

Histoplasma can occur in high concentrations in sources of bird and bat feces. Histoplasmosis can affect other mammals like dogs and cats, but these animals do not transfer the disease to humans or to other animals.

Geotrichum is a widespread species in soil, water and air. It is also common in polluted water and sewage effluents, paper pulp and on textiles. It is widely found as a spoilage organism of bread, meat, fruit, fruit juices and other foodstuffs. In indoor environments, it has been isolated from carpet dust and damp walls.

Geotrichum frequently causes pulmonary infection but has also been reported to cause bronchial, oral, vaginal, cutaneous and alimentary infections. It poses inhalation health risks and risks related to major barrier breaks (e.g., corneal perforation, major surgery, peritoneal or venous catheter presence, and injection drug use) in persons with weak immune systems.

The fungus colonizes nearly all fungal surface-ripened cheeses during the early stages of ripening. It greatly influences the appearance, structure and flavor of Brie and Camembert, along with a variety of goat cheeses. It also helps prevent the skin from slipping off of your cheese. In red smear cheeses it helps neutralize the surface of the cheese and stimulates the development of desired, acid-sensitive flora.

Fusarium species exist as plant pathogens and are found on plant debris and in soil. Plant parasitic Fusarium causes wilting of many plants including crops such as tomatoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, pigeon peas, and pears. Some species of Fusarium are commonly isolated from seeds, especially those of cereals. Species of Fusarium also produce a number of different mycotoxins.

The Fusarium species are probably the most prevalent toxin-producing fungi in the northern temperate regions and are commonly found on cereals grown in the temperate regions of America, Europe and Asia. These toxins have been shown to cause a variety of toxic effects in both experimental animals and livestock and are also suspected of causing toxicity in humans.

In indoor environments Fusarium species are generally found under very wet conditions. They are commonly isolated from carpet and mattress dust, damp walls, wallpaper, polyester polyurethane foam, humidifier pans and areas where stagnant water occurs in HVAC systems. Some species cause keratitis in humans, and infect eyes and finger nails. Fusarium species are also an inhalation hazard.

Fusarium culmorum is born in soil and has a worldwide distribution. Indoors, it has been isolated from floor, carpet and mattress dust; damp wall and polyurethane foam. Fusarium culmorum is associated with allergy. It also produces vomitoxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin that causes a serious feed refusal and vomiting in animals fed contaminated feed.

Fusarium solani is a soil borne fungus found indoors in carpet and mattress dust; damp walls, wallpaper; polyester polyurethane foam; insulating cotton in duct liner; water pipes and humidifiers. Fusarium solani causes keratitis in humans. It is also associated with wounds and infections of the eyes and fingernails. It poses inhalation and deep skin (dermal) inoculation health risks to persons with weak immune systems. It also poses health risks related to major barrier breaks such as corneal perforation, major surgery, peritoneal or venous catheter presence, and injection drug use.

Fusarium verticillioides is soilborne. Indoors, it is found on humidifier pans and other areas where stagnant water occurs in HVAC systems. It is also found in mattress dust and on damp walls. Fusarium verticillioides causes keratitis in humans and invasive mycoses in immunocompromised people. It poses inhalation and deep skin (dermal) inoculation health risks to persons with weak immune systems. Fusarium verticillioides also poses the same health risks listed above under Fusarium solani.

NOTE: If you suspect you have been exposed to this fungus, it is probable that you have been exposed to some Mycotoxins produced by this fungus and will need to add that (Mycotoxin) remedy to your cart as well.

Exophiala is a widespread fungus commonly found in soil and sewage. It causes mycetoma and opportunistic infections in humans. This organism is recognized with increasing frequency as a cause of human disease. Human infection caused by Exophiala can be separated into three types: superficial infections, cutaneous and subcutaneous disease, and visceral or systemic disease.

Most cases of infection caused by Exophiala are included in the first two categories. Visceral or systemic disease is very rare. Cases of pneumonia, fungaemia, central nervous system infection, endocarditis and peritonitis have been reported. Systemic diseases have occurred mostly in patients with predisposing factors such as organ transplant, leukemia, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection and dialysis, catheter-related infection and cystic fibrosis.

Researchers tested home dishwashers and found Exophiala in 62% of them.

Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus found worldwide that causes superficial and cutaneous infection. Human beings are the primary host of Epidermophyton and it is found in soil.

This fungus can affect otherwise healthy people with dermatophytosis such as tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete's foot), and onychomycosis or tinea unguium, a fungal infection of the nail bed. This infection is restricted to the nonliving cornified layers of epidermis.

Keratinized tissues restrict the dissemination of infection caused by dermatophytes. As with all forms of dermatophytosis, Epidermophyton infections are communicable and usually transmitted by contact, particularly in common showers and gym facilities.