Ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium genera contaminates cereals and different food compounds. OTA presents a wide range of toxic effects, especially nephrotoxicity. It is also considered to be the main causal agent of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) which is similar to the Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy with unknown aetiology seen in Tunisia. In this study, we attempted to confirm the relationship between OTA blood levels and the development of renal pathology. Hence, serum OTA levels were measured in several groups of patients having different renal diseases: a group presenting Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (CIN) with unknown aetiology, a group presenting Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (CIN) with known aetiology, a group presenting Chronic Glomerular Nephropathy (CGN), and a group presenting Chronic Vascular Nephropathy (CVN). Each group was compared to a healthy control group. In the healthy group, 49% of individuals showed OTA concentrations ranging from 1.7 to 8.5 ng/ml, with a mean value of 3.3±1.5 ng/ml. However, among nephropathic patients, the group with CIN of unknown aetiology showed the highest incidence (76%), ranging from 1.8 to 65 ng/ml with a mean value of 18±7 ng/ml. Even in the healthy group, the calculated Daily Intake (DI) ranged from 5.0 to 24.9 ng/kgb.w./day when compared to the recommended DI by the scientific committee on foods of 5 ng/kgb.w./day, indicating a high degree of exposure to OTA in the Tunisian population. Our study confirms the involvement of this nephrotoxic mycotoxin, present at high blood levels in the Tunisian population, in the outcome of this particular human nephropathy (CIN with unknown aetiology) which is similar to BEN.
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