Human mycohepatotoxin problems of developing countries: cirrhosis, cancer, and viral interactions: (a view from Africa)

Abstract

Cirrhosis (non‐alcoholic) and accompanying primary liver cancer are widespread in tropical populations. Malaria, kwashiorkor in infancy and intestinal schistosomiasis are among factors which have been held to blame. These, however, are not widespread in upland Ethiopia, where nonetheless a high incidence of such liver disease is reported. Traditional grain stores were shown to be liable to mould contamination. Wet‐season cereals, examined mycologically, yielded Aspergillus flavus, also A.ochraceus and A. fumigatus, as well as penicillium species: all known from veterinary and experimental work to be liver‐damaging and (in some species) productive of liver cancer. The issue is much wider than “peanuts plus A. flavus give aflatoxin gives liver cancer”. Rather, “all stored cereals plus a diversity of moulds can give cirrhosis as well as cancer”.