Histopathological Assessment and Oxidative Biomarker Analysis of Wild Boar Tissues Affected by Ochratoxin A Contamination in the Campania Region, Southern Italy

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin found in a variety of human foods and in animals. Wild boars are widespread on the European mainland. As they are ubiquitous and feed mainly on a varied diet, they can serve as an excellent bioindicator for OTA research. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of oxidative stress (OS) markers to assess the physiological response of wildlife to environmental stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate OS through biochemical assays and morphological changes in liver, kidney and muscle of wild boar that had responded positively to OTA in the Campania region, southern Italy. Endogenous antioxidant enzymes, as well as lipid peroxidation, were quantified using commercially available assay kits. Histological analysis was performed by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Our results indicate that OTA contamination can lead to oxidative stress (OS) and various histopathological changes, primarily affecting the liver and kidneys of OTA-positive wild boars, but not their muscles. Overall, this study highlights the occurrence of OTA contamination in food products, contributing to the broader concern regarding food safety and the potential health risks for humans and animals associated with mycotoxin exposure.