PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ABOUT ASPERGILLUS SPP. SPREAD IN UMBRIAN AVIAN FARMS
Authors Cruciani D, Crotti S, Maresca C, Pecorelli I, Verdini E, Rodolfi M, Scoccia E, Spina S, Valentini A, Agnetti F
Abstract Among the fungi responsible for deep mycosis, the genus Aspergillus plays a predominant role both in human and veterinary medicine. From a "One Health" perspective, infections by Aspergillus spp. often represent a public health problem linked to specific occupational categories that could have a greater risk of inhaling spores and developing any respiratory disease. This preliminary investigation allowed to acquire information about the spread of Aspergillus spp. in avian livestock of the Umbria region (Central Italy), their sensitivity to antifungals, and the presence of mycotoxins in the considered farms. Environmental, feed, animal, and human samples were collected for mycological investigations; chemical analyses were also performed in feed samples. Moreover, prevalence estimated of the fungal isolates were provided for each individual farm sampled. Direct fungal identification was possible in 298 out of the 559 total samples; 162 of the samples were positive for Aspergillus spp. Mycotoxins were detected in 5 out of the 21 feed samples collected. All the aspergilli tested for antifungal susceptibility were resistant to fluconazole. The results obtained show how much the genus Aspergillus is widespread in the investigated farms; therefore, the poultry livestock represents a favorable environment for the maintenance and spread of fungal spores and their potential transmission to animals and humans.
Publish Date 2022
Volume 8 (11)
ISSN 2309-608X
DOI doi.org/10.3390/jof8111213
URL https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/11/1213
Journal Journal of Fungi
Pages Article no. 1213
PMID 36422034