engleski

Verruculogen production in airborne and clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus Fres.

Among airborne aspergilli sampled in outdoor air of the Zagreb area (year 2002/03), Aspergillus niger (v. Teigh.) and A. fumigatus (Fres.) were the most abundant species (20-30 %), with low annual mean concentrations (0.21-1.04 CFU/m3). Higher concentrations of A. fumigatus were observed in autumn and winter (0.5-1.05 CFU/m3) than in spring and summer (0-0.4 CFU/m3). On the other hand, A. fumigatus was found to be the most frequent isolate from upper and/or lower respiratory tract of imunocompromised patients in many studies. This species produce several mycotoxins including tremorgenic mycotoxin verruculogen that can be found in spores and during myceliar growth. Verruculogen production ability was tested in biosynthesis in 30 airborne and 33 clinical isolates of A. fumigatus. In both groups, high percentage of verruculogen-producing strains was noticed (84 % of airborne and 91 % of clinical isolates, respectively). Verruculogen production was not significantly different in the group of airborne isolates ( ± SD): 0.344± 0.16 mg/mL, and clinical isolates: 0.255 ± 0.19 mg/mL, p>0.05, respectively.

Aspergillus fumigatus; airborne fungi; verruculogen

nije evidentirano