Epidemiology of Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome at a Reference Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Brazil

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) represent one of the main causes of morbimortality in immunocompromised patients. Pneumocystosis, cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis are the most frequently occurring IFIs in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fungi, such as Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp., may cause severe diseases during the course of an HIV infection. Following the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy, there has been a marked reduction of opportunistic fungal infections, which today is 20–25 % of the number of infections observed in the mid-1990s. This study is an observational and retrospective study aimed at the characterising IFI incidence and describing the epidemiology, clinical diagnostic and therapeutic features and denouement in HIV/AIDS patients. In HIV/AIDS patients, the IFI incidence is 54.3/1,000 hospitalisation/year, with a lethality of 37.7 %. Cryptococcosis represents the main opportunistic IFI in the population, followed by histoplasmosis. Nosocomial pathogenic yeast infections are caused principally by Candida spp., with a higher candidemia incidence at our institution compared to other Brazilian centres.     

A Review of Onychomycosis Due to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> Species

Aspergillus spp. are emerging causative agents of non-dermatophyte mould onychomycosis (NDMO). New Aspergillus spp. have recently been described to cause nail infections. The following criteria are required to diagnose onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp.: (1) positive direct microscopy and (2) repeated culture or molecular detection of Aspergillus spp., provided no dermatophyte was isolated. A review of 42 epidemiological studies showed that onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. varies between < 1 and 35% of all cases of onychomycosis in the general population and higher among diabetic populations accounting for up to 71% and the elderly; it is very uncommon among children and adolescence. Aspergillus spp. constitutes 7.7–100% of the proportion of NDMO. The toenails are involved 25 times more frequently than fingernails. A. flavus, A. terreus and A. niger are the most common aetiologic species; other rare and emerging species described include A. tubingensis, A. sydowii, A. alliaceus, A. candidus, A. versicolor, A. unguis, A. persii, A. sclerotiorum, A. uvarum, A. melleus, A. tamarii and A. nomius. The clinical presentation of onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. is non-specific but commonly distal–lateral pattern of onychomycosis. A negative culture with a positive KOH may point to a NDM including Aspergillus spp., as the causative agent of onychomycosis. Treatment consists of systemic therapy with terbinafine or itraconazole.     

Preliminary Study of the Fungal Ecology at the Haematology and Medical-Oncology Ward in Bamako,Mali

Data on fungal epidemiology in sub-Saharan African countries are scarce. This exploratory study aimed to characterize the fungal flora at the Onco-Haematology ward of the National Teaching Hospital of Point G in Bamako, Mali. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the dry and in the rainy seasons. Nasal swab and sputum samples were collected from the hospitalized patients while airborne fungal spores were collected using electrostatic dust-fall collectors. Fungi were identified by their morphological characteristics and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Candida albicans was the most frequent yeast species colonizing patients; Aspergillus species were isolated in 86 % of the patients and were the main airborne environmental contaminants. Overall, airborne fungal contamination rates increased from 33.8 % in the dry to 66.2 % in the rainy season (p < 0.001). The most frequent Aspergillus species were Aspergillus niger (36.6 %) and Aspergillus flavus (32.92 %). In contrast, Aspergillus fumigatus (5.43 %) was relatively rare. This high level of fungal exposure raises concern regarding the management of at-risk patients in this Onco-Haematology ward and stresses the need for strengthening the mycological diagnostic capacities to accompany the implementation of adapted fungal infection prevention and management policies.     

Case Series Study of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is challenging. The objective of the study was to assess the value of microbiological tests to the diagnosis of IPA in the absence of non-specific radiological data. A retrospective study of 23 patients with suspicion of IPA and positivity of some microbiological diagnostic tests was performed. These tests included conventional microbiological culture, detection of Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigen and in some patients (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan (BDG) and Aspergillus fumigatus DNA using the LightCycler^® SeptiFast test. In 10 patients with hematological malignancy, 6 cases were considered ‘probable’ and 4 ‘non-classifiable.’ In 8 patients with chronic lung disease, 7 cases were classified as ‘probable’ and 1 as ‘proven,’ and in 5 patients with prolonged ICU stay (>7 days), there were 2 ‘proven’ cases, 2 ‘non-classifiable’ and 1 putative case. Microbiological culture was positive in 17 cases and 18 Aspergillus spp. were isolated (one mixed culture). A. fumigatus was the most frequent (44.4%) followed by A. tubingensis. The Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigen assay was positive in 21 cases (91.3%). The GM antigen and the (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan (BDG) assays were both performed in 12 cases (52.2%), being positive in 9. The SeptiFast test was performed in 7 patients, being positive in 4. In patients with non-classifiable pulmonary aspergillosis and one or more positive microbiological tests, radiological criteria may not be considered a limiting factor for the diagnosis of IPA.     

A preliminary study on the occurrence of Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin B1 in imported wheat and barley in Penang, Malaysia

Thirty samples consisting of wheat (15) and barley (15) were collected from different markets in Penang, Malaysia, originating from India and Thailand, respectively. All samples were analyzed for occurrence of Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB1). Aspergillus flavus was dominant in all samples followed by A. niger. AFB1 could be detected in three wheat samples ranging from 0.42 to 1.89 μg/kg and one barley sample had 0.58 μg/kg of AFB1. The AFB1 levels in all the samples were below the Malaysian regulatory limits (<35 μg/kg). The frequency and quantity of AFB1 levels in this study were very low in wheat and barley samples compared to other agricultural commodities reported in India and Thailand. This is the first report on determination of Aspergillus spp. and AFB1 in imported wheat and barley grains in Penang, Malaysia.     

Evaluation of Etest Performed in Mueller–Hinton Agar Supplemented with Glucose for Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Clinical Isolates of Filamentous Fungi

Although reference broth microdilution protocol is currently available for filamentous fungi antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST), simpler alternatives as Etest^® tend to be favoured in clinical routine, making their validation of utmost importance. In this study, Etest^® method using 2 % glucose supplemented Muller–Hinton agar was compared to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 protocol for filamentous fungi AFST. The echinocandins, caspofungin and anidulafungin, the azoles voriconazole and posaconazole, and the polyene amphotericin B were tested against 48 Aspergillus spp., seven Fusarium spp., one Beauveria bassiana and three Paecilomyces lilacinus isolates. The majority of the isolates were susceptible to the antifungals tested, and the overall level of agreement between the CLSI and Etest methods was 71.9 % for one dilution and 99.7 % when using two dilutions. Since interpretative breakpoints for filamentous fungi employing the CLSI or Etest methods are not available yet, the established epidemiological cut-off values for Aspergillus spp. were used to distinguish wild-type isolates from those with acquired resistance mechanisms. Forty-five Aspergillus strains did not evidence resistance mutations.     

Monitoring Environmental Aspergillus spp. Contamination and Meteorological Factors in a Haematological Unit

The opportunistic pathogens belonging to the Aspergillus genus are present in almost all seasons of the year, and their concentration is related to meteorological conditions. The high density of Aspergillus spp. conidia in a haematological hospital ward may be a significant risk factor for developing invasive fungal diseases in immunocompromised patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the variability of airborne Aspergillus spp. conidia contamination in a Haematological Unit (HU) within a period of 16 months in relation with some meteorological parameters. An environmental Aspergillus surveillance was conducted in the HU in four rooms and their bathrooms, in the corridor and in three external sites using an agar impact sampler. During each sampling, temperature and relative humidity at each site were recorded and current wind speed and rainfall events were taken from the official weather service. Aspergillus spp. conidia concentration differed significantly across the sampling sites. Internal Aspergillus spp. loads were significantly dependent on temperature, internal relative humidity and rain. External conidia concentrations were significantly influenced by outdoor temperature and relative humidity. A suitable indicator was introduced to evaluate the seasonal distribution of Aspergillus spp. conidia in the sampling sites, and a significant dependence on this indicator was observed inside the HU. Seventeen different fungal species belonging to the Aspergillus genus were detected during the sampling period. Aspergillus fumigatus was the most frequently isolated species and its distribution depended significantly on the seasonal indicator both inside and outside the hospital ward.     

Important Mycoses in Children in South America

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is an important infection with high rates of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Data on incidence, risk factors, and mortality of IFD in the pediatric population, mainly in South America, are scarce. The aim of this paper was to review the literature about the most important IFD in pediatrics in South America. We searched three electronic databases (Medline, Lilacs, and Cochrane databases) for studies published between 2012 and 2015; case reports and editorial were excluded. Twenty-two articles were found on Candida spp. infections; eight on Paracoccidiodes spp.; two on Cryptococcus spp.; and one on Aspergillus spp. Candida albicans was the main agent, followed by Candida parapsilosis in pediatric population. Paracoccidioides spp. had a prevalence ranging from 2.3 to 35.3 % with ages between 11 and 29 years, malnutrition, and hepatic involvement related to the worst prognosis. Cryptococcus spp. showed a prevalence of 2.6 % in under 16 years old, with cryptococcal meningitis most observed, mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans (94.1 %). Aspergillosis and other mold infections, as zygomycosis and fusariosis occurring mostly in immunocompromised children, related with relevant morbidity and mortality in this population.     

Preferences of different tick species for human hosts in Turkey

The ticks removed from the patients who applied to the hospitals in Istanbul and neighboring cities, Turkey, with the complaint of tick bite were examined in this study, on account of their species, biological stages, attachment sites on the body, and the age of the affected patients. A total of 16,969 ticks were identified. Encountered species were as follows: 33.6 % Ixodes spp. immature, 25.3 % Hyalomma spp. immature, 24.3 % I. ricinus, 9.5 % Rhipicephalus sanguineus gr., 3.2 % R. bursa, 2.2 % Hyalomma marginatum, 1.96 % Haemaphysalis adults, 1.66 % Hyalomma aegyptium, 0.52 % Dermacentor marginatus, 0.39 % Rhipicephalus spp. nymphs, 0.12 % Dermacentor spp. nymphs, 0.11 % Haemaphysalis spp. nymphs, 0.09 % Hyalomma scupense, and 0.03 % Hyalomma excavatum. The distribution of attachment sites of the species and instars showed significant differences. Furthermore, age data of the patients also revealed that certain tick species were more common within certain age groups.     

Gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus in the dairy herd environment

The potential association between hygienic conditions in the environment of lactating cows and the presence of gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus strains was studied. Milk samples (individual cow’s milk [ICM], bulk tank milk [BTM]) from 44 dairy farms were sampled. In ICM samples, eight different species of Aspergillus were identified. A. flavus and A. fumigatus were predominant, with 37.8 % and 26.1 % relative densities, respectively. A. fumigatus strains were isolated from 61.4 % of the BTM samples, and 34 % of these strains were able to produce gliotoxin. Principal component analysis was used to associate the presence of A. fumigatus with some hygienic and sanitary practices. A significant and positive correlation was observed between dry cow therapy and forestripping. The presence of A. fumigatus gliotoxin producers in milk was associated with high somatic cells count (SCC) samples. Good hygienic and sanitary practices were associated with absence of A. fumigatus and relatively low SCCs of <250,000 cells/ml. In general, a high percentage of dairy farms were positive for A. fumigatus in BTM samples. This is the first work that indicates the positive effects of adequate hygienic and sanitary practices in dairy herds on the control of A. fumigatus and related species. By reducing the frequency of Aspergillus spp. in the dairy environment, the risk of farm handlers’ exposure and the risk of intramammary fungal infections would also be reduced.     

Diversity,molecular phylogeny and fingerprint profiles of airborne <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> species using random amplified polymorphic DNA

In the present study, diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Aspergillus species isolated from Tehran air was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)–polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Thirty-eight Aspergillus isolates belonging to 12 species i.e. A. niger (28.94 %, 11 isolates), A. flavus (18.42 %, 7 isolates), A. tubingensis (13.15 %, 5 isolates), A. japonicus (10.52 %, 4 isolates), A. ochraceus (10.52 %, 4 isolates), and 2.63 %, 1 isolate from each A. nidulans, A. amstelodami, A. oryzae, A. terreus, A. versicolor, A. flavipes and A. fumigatus were obtained by settle plate method which they were distributed in 18 out of 22 sampling sites examined. Fungal DNA was extracted from cultured mycelia of all Aspergillus isolates on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and used for amplification of gene fragments in RAPD-PCR using 11 primers. RAPD-PCR data was analyzed using UPGMA software. Resulting dendrogram of combined selected primers including PM1, OPW-04, OPW-05, P160, P54, P10 and OPA14 indicated the distribution of 12 Aspergillus species in 8 major clusters. The similarity coefficient of all 38 Aspergillus isolates ranged from 0.02 to 0.40 indicating a wide degree of similarities and differences within and between species. Taken together, our results showed that various Aspergillus species including some important human pathogenic ones exist in the outdoor air of Tehran by different extents in distribution and diversity and suggested inter- and intra-species genetic diversity among Aspergillus species by RAPD-PCR as a rapid, sensitive and reproducible method.     

Diagnostic Performance of an Aspergillus-Specific Nested PCR Assay in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of Immunocompromised Patients for Detection of Central Nervous System Aspergillosis

Central nervous system (CNS) invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a fatal complication in immunocompromised patients. Confirming the diagnosis is rarely accomplished as invasive procedures are impaired by neutropenia and low platelet count. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures or galactomannan (GM) regularly yield negative results thus suggesting the need for improving diagnostic procedures. Therefore the performance of an established Aspergillus-specific nested polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) in CSF samples of immunocompromised patients with suspicion of CNS IA was evaluated. We identified 113 CSF samples from 55 immunocompromised patients for whom CNS aspergillosis was suspected. Of these patients 8/55 were identified as having proven/probable CNS IA while the remaining 47 patients were classified as having either possible (n = 22) or no CNS IA (n = 25). PCR positivity in CSF was observed for 8/8 proven/probable, in 4/22 possible CNS IA patients and in 2/25 NoIA patients yielding sensitivity and specificity values of 1.0 (95% CI 0.68–1) and 0.93 (95% CI 0.77–0.98) and a positive likelihood ratio of 14 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.0, respectively, thus resulting in a diagnostic odds ratio of ∞. The retrospective analysis of CSF samples from patients with suspected CNS IA yielded a high sensitivity of the nested PCR assay. PCR testing of CSF samples is recommended for patients for whom CNS IA is suspected, especially for those whose clinical condition does not allow invasive procedures as a positive PCR result makes the presence of CNS IA in that patient population highly likely.     

Mycoflora isolation and molecular characterization of Aspergillus and Fusarium species in Tunisian cereals

Wheat, barley and maize are the mainly consumed cereals in Tunisia. This study aimed to determine the mycoflora of these cereals with special focus on the mycotoxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species. Freshly harvested samples and other stored samples of each type of cereal (31 and 34 samples, respectively) were collected in Tunisia and cultured for fungal isolation and identification. Identification of fungal genera was based on morphological features. Aspergillus and Fusarium species were identified by species specific PCR assays complemented with DNA sequencing. Alternaria (70.83%), Eurotium (62.50%), Aspergillus (54.17%) and Penicillium (41.67%) were the most frequent fungi isolated from wheat. Penicillium (75%), Aspergillus (70%), Eurotium (65%) and Alternaria (65%) were the most frequently recovered genera from barley. The predominant genera in maize were Aspergillus (76.19%), Eurotium (42.86%), and Penicillium (38.09%). Aspergilllus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria were detected in both stored and freshly harvested grain samples. The frequencies of contamination with Aspergillus, Fusarium and Alternaria were higher in freshly harvested samples, whereas Penicillium species were more frequent in stored samples. The predominant Aspergillus species detected were A. flavus and A. niger. The Fusarium species detected were F. equiseti, F. verticillioides, F. nygamai, and F. oxysporum. This study suggested the potential risk for Aflatoxins and, to a lesser extent, for Ochratoxin A in Tunisian cereals. This is the first survey about mycoflora associated with wheat, barley and maize in Tunisia.     

Aspergillus in the Intensive Care Unit

Invasive aspergillosis (IA), the most life-threatening form of aspergillosis, has become a major opportunistic fungal disease in immunocompromised patients. In high-risk patients with hematologic malignancies, IA appears to decline with the use of mold-active antifungal prophylaxis, but the situation is less clear in other patient groups at risk for IA, and precise epidemiologic data from patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) are lacking. Most Aspergillus culture isolates from nonsterile body sites do not represent disease, but isolation of Aspergillus in critically ill patients is a marker of poor prognosis and is associated with high mortality regardless of invasion or colonization. This review presents current information on epidemiology, risk factors, and diagnosis, and discusses treatment options for patients with IA in the ICU.     

Evaluation of in vitro activities of extracellular enzymes from Aspergillus species isolated from corneal ulcer/keratitis

Mycotic/fungal keratitis is a suppurative, generally ulcerative infection of the cornea. The filamentous fungi, Aspergillus spp. are the second leading cause of mycotic keratitis, particularly in India. Aspergillus spp. produce a range of extracellular enzymes that are used to break down complex molecules and used for growth and reproduction, also for survival on/in host organism. The current study was designed with an objective to screen in vitro extracellular enzyme activity of Fusarium and Aspergillus isolates from mycotic keratitis patients and to correlate the same as a putative virulence factor. Extracellular enzymes viz., deoxyribonuclease (DNase), protease, lipase, elastase, keratinase, etc., produced by Aspergillus have key role in keratomycosis and hence their (n = 85) in vitro activities were investigated. It was found that, the majority of the Aspergillus isolates produced protease (n = 75; 88% of 85) followed by lipase (n = 59; 69% of 85), DNase (n = 35; 41% of 85), elastase (n = 26; 31% of 85) and keratinase (n = 13; 15% of 85). The enzyme activity indices (EAI) for DNase, elastase, protease and lipase ranged between 1.01 and 1.98, whereas elastase EAI varied between 1.26 and 1.92. DNase, protease and lipase showed a maximum EAI of 1.98 and lowest EAI value of 1.01, respectively. Extracellular enzymes of Aspergillus spp. may have potential role in the onset and progression of keratitis.     

Aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from marketed peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) in Algiers (Algeria)

The present study reports on the natural mycobiota occurring in Chinese peanuts marketed in Algiers, paying special attention to the incidence of Aspergillus section Flavi species that are potential producers of aflatoxins. The mean value counts of fungi ranged from 155 to 577 CFU/g dry matter (DM) and the predominant fungi were different species of the genus Penicillium (83.81–93.85 %) and Aspergillus belonging to section Flavi (2.73–73.96 %). Results indicated that 82 isolates (100 %) were aflatoxigenic. The Aspergillus section Flavi strains revealed that 65 isolates (79.27 %) were highly aflatoxigenic, producing four kinds of aflatoxins [AFB1 (0.846–3.330 μg/g), AFB2 (0.005–0.007 μg/g), AFG1 (0.008–1.595 μg/g), and AFG2 (0.005–0.010 μg/g)], whereas 17 isolates (20.73 %) synthetized low levels of one or two aflatoxins (AFB1 and AFG2). Aflatoxin production was also screened on Coconut Agar Medium (CAM), and the results were consistent with the HPLC analysis. Based on the combination of mycotoxins produced, five Aspergillus section Flavi chemotypes were established. Sclerotia production expressed a correlation to aflatoxigenicity. The total aflatoxins were detected in four analyzed samples at levels ranging from 0.71 to 25.50 μg/kg. Furthermore, the amplicons corresponding to the ITS1-5.8 S-ITS2 rDNA of six representative strains showed that four strains belonged to Aspergillus flavus, one to A. minisclerotigenes, and one to A. caelatus. The results obtained indicate that there is a possible risk factor posed by aflatoxins contamination of peanuts marketed in Algiers.     

Importance of Aspergillus spp. isolation in Acute exacerbations of severe COPD: prevalence,factors and follow-up: the FUNGI-COPD study

Background

Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are often associated with infectious agents, some of which may be non-usual, including Aspergillus spp. However, the importance of Aspergillus spp. in the clinical management of AECOPD still remains unclear.

Objectives

The aims of the study were to analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with Aspergillus spp. isolation in AECOPD, and to investigate the associated clinical outcomes during a 1-year follow-up period.

Methods

Patients presenting with an AECOPD requiring hospitalization were prospectively included from four hospitals across Spain. Clinical, radiological and microbiological data were collected at admission and during the follow-up period (1, 6 and 12 months after discharge), and re-admissions and mortality data collected during the follow-up.

Results

A total of 240 patients with severe AECOPD were included. Valid sputum samples were obtained in 144 (58%) patients, and in this group, the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. isolation was 16.6% on admission and 14.1% at one-year follow-up. Multivariate logistic-regression showed that AECOPD in the previous year (OR 12.35; 95% CI, 1.9-29.1; p < 0.001), concurrent isolation of pathogenic bacteria (OR 3.64; 95% CI 1.65-9.45, p = 0.001) and concomitant isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR 2.80; 95% IC, 1.81-11.42; p = 0.001) were the main risk factors for Aspergillus spp. isolation.

Conclusions

The main risk factors for Aspergillus spp. isolation were AECOPD in the previous year and concomitant isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, although Aspergillus spp. is often isolated in sputum samples from patients with AECOPD, the pathogenic and clinical significance remains unclear.     

Protein mapping of Chaetomium globosum,a potential biological control agent through proteomics approach

Chaetomium globosum is a ubiquitous filamentous fungus having biological control properties. The potential isolates mycoparasitize the pathogen and produce antifungal metabolites which suppress the growth of pathogenic fungi. A proteomics approach was undertaken to separate and identify proteins from a mycoparasitic strain Cg1 of C. globosum under normal and heat shock conditions in order to identify differentially expressed proteins. We developed and standardized the procedure for extraction of total proteins and 2D gel electrophoresis, which resulted in profiling of more than 100 protein spots. 48 proteins were identified by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS). Out of total proteins identified, 79 % were hypothetical proteins and 21 % proteins were functionally characterized. Out of total 79 % hypothetical proteins 24 % proteins matched with C. globosum while 18 % proteins matched with Aspergillus spp., 13 % with Coprinopsis cinerea, 10 % with Giberrella zaea, 8 % with Magnaporthe grisea and 5 % with Neurospora crassa and Lodderomyces elonisporus. Some of the functionally characterized proteins included MAP kinase, maltose permease, GTP binding protein, dyenin heavy chain, HET- C2, vacuolar Dig A protein, polyketide synthase, peptide prolyl cis trans isomerase and translation elongation factor. This study has generated a protein reference map for Chaetomium globosum, and being the first report on proteomics studies would greatly help to unravel biocontrol mechanism and its survival under heat stress conditions.     

Effect of essential oil from fresh leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. on mycoflora during storage of peanuts in Benin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oil from fresh leaves of Sweet Fennel (Ocimum gratissimum) on mycoflora and Aspergillus section Flavi populations in stored peanuts. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Mucor spp. were the most common genera identified from peanuts at post-harvest in Benin by using a taxonomic schemes primarily based on morphological characters of mycelium and conidia. The isolated fungi include Aspergillus niger, A. parasiticus, A. flavus, A. ochraceus, Fusarium graminearum, F. solani, F. oxysporum and Mucor spp. The most prevalent fungi recorded were A. niger (94.18 %), A. flavus (83.72 %), A. parasiticus (77.90 %), A. ochraceus (72.09 %), F. graminearum (59.30 %) and F. oxysporum (51.16 %). Antifungal assay, performed by the agar medium assay, indicated that essential oil exhibited high antifungal activity against the growth of A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. ochraceus and F. oxysporium. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the essential oil was found to be 7.5 μl/ml for A. flavus and A. parasiticus and 5.5 μl/ml for A. ochraceus and F. oxysporium. The minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) was recorded to be 8.0 μl/ml for A. flavus and A. parasiticus, 6,5 μl/ml for A. ochraceus and 6.0 μl/ml for F. oxysporium. The essential oil was found to be strongly fungicidal and inhibitory to aflatoxin production. Chemical analysis by GC/MS of the components of the oil led to the identification of 31 components characterized by myrcene (6.4 %), α-thujene (8.2 %), p-cymene (17.6 %), γ-terpinene (20.0 %), and thymol (26.9 %) as major components. The essential oil of Sweet Fennel, with fungal growth and mycotoxin inhibitory properties, offers a novel approach to the management of storage, thus opening up the possibility to prevent mold contamination in stored peanuts.