Trichothecenes: Occurrence and Toxicoses

The Δ -12,13-epoxy-trichothecenes are a group of 37 naturally occurring sesquiterpenoids produced by species of Fusarium , Stachybotrys , Myrothecium , Trichoderma , and Cephalosporium . They are responsible for a variety of mycotoxicoses in man and animals that may be manifested by severe dermatitis, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, decreased weight gains, extensive hemorrhaging, and death. Outbreaks, which have occurred in Russia, Europe, the United States, Japan, and Korea, usually result after cereal grains in the field have been exposed to prolonged cool and wet weather. Hence, these mycotoxicoses do not appear to be a problem of faulty grain storage, since they involve field fungi primarily rather than storage molds.