title: Mycotoxigenic potentials of the genera: Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium isolated from houseflies (Musca domestica L.).
abstract: A study on the potential of houseflies (Musca domestica L.) to spread fungal spores in Gauteng Province, South Africa proved that houseflies are vectors for fungal spores. Therefore, there is a need to determine the toxigenic potentials and to identify the mycotoxins produced by fungal isolates derived from this study. In total 377 potentially toxigenic isolates of Aspergillus (186), Fusarium (85) and Penicillium (106) species (spp.) were isolated. These isolates were further tested for their ability to produce aflatoxins (AFs) [aflatoxin B1, B2, G1and G2], deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1(FB1) ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) respectively. Strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus belonging to the genera of Aspergillus were found to be the main producers of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2, while A. carbonarius, A. niger and A. ochraceus produced OTA. Fumonisin B1was produced by F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum with concentrations ranging from 20 to 1834μg/kg and 79 to 262μg/kg respectively. Deoxynivalenol produced mainly by F. culmorum (2-6μg/kg), F. graminearum (1-4μg/kg), F. poae (1-3μg/kg), and F. sporotrichioides (2-3μg/kg) species was the least detected toxin in this study. The high mycotoxins levels produced in isolates from houseflies in this study are regarded as unsafe, especially when international legislated tolerance levels for mycotoxins are considered. Thus, possible human exposure to mycotoxins may pose concerns with respect to human health and demands constant and consistent investigation.
authors.affiliation: Water and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: j_phoku@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Phoku
authors.affiliation: Water and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: tgbarnard@uj.ac.za.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health, Domestic Hygiene and Microbial Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa. Electronic address: natasha.potgieter@univen.ac.za.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Potgieter
authors.affiliation: Water and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: mdutton@uj.ac.za.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dutton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006793:Houseflies / Q000382:microbiology*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013019:South Africa; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins
keywords: Aspergillus; Fusarium; High performance liquid chromatography; Houseflies; Mycotoxigenic fungi; Penicillium