Prevalence of Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins (Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, and Gliotoxin) and Their Distribution in the Urinalysis of ME/CFS Patients

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a known complex, multi-organ system disorder with a sudden or subacute onset. ME/CFS occurs most commonly among women between 30 and 50 years of age. The current diagnostic criteria of ME/CFS, as defined by the Centers for Disease Contro...

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Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-02, Vol.19 (4), p.2052
Main Authors: Wu, Ting Yu, Khorramshahi, Taura, Taylor, Lindsey A, Bansal, Nikita S, Rodriguez, Betsy, Rey, Irma R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aflatoxins
Age composition
Antigens
Aspergillus
Chronic exposure
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Cognitive ability
Disease control
Epidemiology
Exposure
Fatigue
Females
Genomes
Gliotoxin
Immune system
Intolerance
Laboratories
Lipid peroxidation
Mold
Mycotoxins
Ochratoxin A
Orthostatic tolerance
Oxidative stress
Toxins
Urinalysis
Urine
Water damage
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Summary:Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a known complex, multi-organ system disorder with a sudden or subacute onset. ME/CFS occurs most commonly among women between 30 and 50 years of age. The current diagnostic criteria of ME/CFS, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes: profound fatigue and post-exertional malaise (>6 mo) unrelieved by rest, persistent cognitive impairment or orthostatic intolerance, and chronic unrefreshing sleep. Despite reported associations between ME/CFS onset and exposure to infectious agents (viral, bacterial, or fungal), the pathophysiology of ME/CFS remains unknown. In this prevalence study, we investigated the rates of Aspergillus-derived toxin levels, Aflatoxin (AF), Ochratoxin A (OTA), and Gliotoxin (GT), in the urinalysis of 236 ME/CFS patients with a history of chronic exposure to mold (i.e., from water-damaged buildings). Among ME/CFS patients reporting chronic exposure to mold, we found evidence of exposure in 92.4 percent of patients, with OTA being the most prevalent mycotoxin. Mold distributions (OTA, AF, and GT) in the urinalysis all demonstrated right skewness, while the distribution of age of ME/CFS patients diagnosed showed no deviation from normality. This study aims to provide preliminary, epidemiological evidence among ME/CFS patients who were diagnosed in South Florida with a history of exposure to mycotoxins. Based on these findings, we proposed how future control studies should approach investigating the association between chronic mold exposure and the diagnosis of ME/CFS.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19042052