What does mycotoxicosis mean?
Mycotoxicosis is a medical term for illness caused by exposure to mycotoxins, poisonous compounds produced by certain fungi or molds. It most often follows eating contaminated food or feed, although the toxins may also be inhaled. Symptoms vary with the toxin and dose and can include vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and, in severe cases, organ damage. The word is used in medicine, veterinary science, toxicology, and food-safety research, especially in discussions of aflatoxin exposure, ergot toxins, and contaminated grain. Mycotoxicosis should not be confused with mycosis: a mycosis is an infection caused by a fungus, whereas mycotoxicosis is a toxic effect from fungal products and does not require fungal invasion of the body. The term is especially useful because it identifies a specific disease mechanism that ordinary expressions such as "food poisoning" may leave vague. It also explains why food can cause illness even when no living fungus is present and why controlling moisture, mold growth, and spoiled material matters in food and feed storage.
nounA toxic illness caused by exposure to mycotoxins, poisonous compounds produced by certain fungi or molds. It most commonly results from consuming contaminated food or feed but can also occur through inhalation.
- A disease or toxic condition caused by exposure to mycotoxins, especially through contaminated food or feed.
"The veterinary report attributed the herd's deaths to acute mycotoxicosis caused by mold-contaminated feed."
"The veterinary report attributed the herd's deaths to acute mycotoxicosis caused by mold-contaminated feed."
"Food-safety investigators considered mycotoxicosis while examining the outbreak among families who had eaten the same stored grain."
The plural is uncommon and is chiefly needed when discussing multiple cases or occurrences of the disease.
"Documented mycotoxicoses in livestock have prompted stricter controls on feed storage."
The twist in mycotoxicosis: the fungus need not invade the body; its toxin alone can cause illness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mycotoxicosis come from?
The word combines Greek mykēs, meaning "mushroom" or "fungus," with Greek toxikon, meaning "poison," and reflects the poisonous substances produced by molds. The suffix -osis denotes a condition, especially a pathological state, so mycotoxicosis names a toxic condition associated with fungal toxins. Related English words such as mycotoxin, mycotic, mycology, and mycorrhiza continue the same Greek root for fungus.
How mycotoxicosis is actually used
This is a specialized medical, veterinary, toxicological, and food-safety term. It is more precise than the informal phrase "food poisoning" because it identifies illness caused specifically by fungal toxins.
Easily confused with mycotoxicosis
A mycosis is an infection caused by a fungus, whereas mycotoxicosis is poisoning caused by fungal toxins and does not require the fungus to invade the body.