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Toxigenic Aspergilli isolated from different sources in Egypt

A H Moubasher, I A el-Kady, A Shoriet

    Annales De La Nutrition Et De L'Alimentation
    |January 1, 1977
    PubMed

    Insights

    Egyptian Aspergillus species were screened for mycotoxins. Three high-toxin producers were identified, including Aspergillus terricola, which newly produces aflatoxins, posing a significant risk.

    Area of Science:

    • Mycology
    • Food Safety
    • Toxicology

    Background:

    • Aspergillus species are ubiquitous fungi with the potential to produce harmful mycotoxins.
    • Contamination of food and feed with mycotoxins poses a significant threat to animal and human health.
    • Egyptian agricultural environments may harbor toxigenic Aspergillus strains.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To assess the toxigenicity of Aspergillus isolates from various Egyptian sources.
    • To identify specific Aspergillus species producing known and unknown mycotoxins.
    • To report for the first time the aflatoxin production by Aspergillus terricola.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and cultivation of 45 Aspergillus strains from diverse sources in Egypt.
    • Toxicity testing using chicken embryos and inhibition of Bacillus megaterium growth.
    • Mycotoxin detection and characterization via Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis.

    Main Results:

    • Out of 45 isolates, 30 demonstrated toxicity to chicken embryos and/or Bacillus megaterium.
    • Three isolates were identified as high-toxin producers: Aspergillus egyptiacus, Aspergillus carneus, and Aspergillus terricola.
    • Aspergillus egyptiacus and Aspergillus carneus produced unknown toxins, while Aspergillus terricola produced aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2).

    Conclusions:

    • Aspergillus terricola represents a novel source of aflatoxins, necessitating further investigation and risk assessment.
    • The presence of toxigenic Aspergillus species in Egypt highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance for mycotoxin contamination.
    • This study contributes valuable data on the mycotoxin-producing potential of Aspergillus species in the region.

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