Production of sterigmatocystin by some species of the genus Aspergillus and its toxicity to chicken embryos.
Sterigmatocystin was produced by 59% of Aspergillus flavus cultures and by 16% of A. parasiticus cultures. All sterigmatocystin-producing cultures of the A. flavus group also simultaneously produced aflatoxin or O-methylsterigmatocystin. Sterigmatocystin was produced by A. chevalieri, A. ruber, and A. amstelodami, species not previously reported to produce the compound. In 5-day-old chicken embryos, the no-effect level of toxicity of sterigmatocystin was between 1 and 2 mug/egg; the mean lethal dose was 5 to 7 mug; and 90 to 100% of the embryos were killed with 10 mug. Teratogenic effects and weight reduction were generally associated with nonlethal doses.
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D013045:Species Specificity; D013241:Sterigmatocystin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000348:Aflatoxins; D014966:Xanthenes; D013241:Sterigmatocystin