Haemolytic fungi isolated from sago starch in Papua New Guinea.
Sago haemolytic disease (SHD) is a rare but often fatal illness linked to consumption of stale sago starch in Papua New Guinea. Although the aetiology of SHD remains unknown, mycotoxins are suspected. This study investigated whether fungi isolated from Papua New Guinean sago starch were haemolytic. Filamentous fungi and yeasts from sago starch were grown on sheep blood agar and some on human blood agar. Clear haemolytic activity was demonstrated by 55% of filamentous fungal isolates, but not by yeasts. A semi-quantitative bioassay was developed involving incubation of human erythrocytes with fungal extracts. Extracts of cultures of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium all caused rapid haemolysis in the bioassay. Partial fractionation of extracts suggested that both polar and non-polar haemolytic components had haemolytic activity in vitro. Further work is warranted to identify these metabolites and determine if they play a role in SHD.
Greenhill
Andrew R
AR
Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Research Group, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia. andrew.greenhill@pngimr.org.pg
Blaney
Barry J
BJ
Shipton
Warren A
WA
Pue
Aisak
A
Fletcher
Mary T
MT
Warner
Jeffrey M
JM
D000818:Animals; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010407:Penicillium / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012756:Sheep; D013213:Starch
D003470:Culture Media; D009183:Mycotoxins; D013213:Starch