The mycoflora and incidence of aflatoxin,zearalenone and sterigmatocystin in dairy feed and forage samples from Eastern India and Bangladesh

The mycoflora of a range of mixed ruminant feed and forage samples collected in Eastern India and Bangladesh were determined. Most fungi isolated from the samples were those associated with low moisture contents. Several potentially mycotoxigenic fungi and thermotolerant species were present particularly in the rice straw. The most frequently isolated fungi were: Aspergillus versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium citrinum Thorn, Eurotium species, Wallemia sebi (Fr.) v. Arx, Aspergillus penicilloides Speg. and yeasts. Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon and Cladosporium species were prevalent in straw but not other feeds. Levels of certain individual fungi, particularly thermotolerant types, were higher in Bangladesh rice straw although overall counts were similar to those of the Indian samples. Mycotoxin analyses for aflatoxins, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin were carried out. Aflatoxins were detected in significant amounts in some feed samples from Eastern India but not in rice straw from India and Bangladesh. Zearalenone occurred in a Paspalum straw sample and three other feed samples from India and sterigmatocystin was detected in three rice straw samples from Bangladesh.     

The occurrence of keratinophilic fungi in queensland

Summary Keratinophilic fungi have been isolated and identified in soil samples from 233 sites in Queensland and 12 from the Northern Territory. Total numbers of the fungi isolated are given, together with their occurrence in various broad types of locality.It is noted that populated localities produced a higher incidence of keratinophilic fungi than remote areas. Exceptions to this were found in beach sand, 17 samples of which produced only two growths ofChrysosporium species and no potentially pathogenic fungi.Culture technique, and the method of examination of colonies are discussed, and the morphological features of several of the more commonly occurring species are described.Isolates ofChrysosporium tropicum were made from two samples, one from Alice Springs and one from Brisbane. This is the first time this fungus has been reported in Australia.     

Four endoparasitic nematode destroying fungi isolated from Sand Ridge State Forest soil

A survey to determine the endoparasitic nematode destroying fungi located within Sand Ridge State Forest of Illinois was conducted from 1 January to 3 April 1973. A total of seven nematode destroying fungal species were isolated from the collected soil samples. Harposporium helicoides, H. crassum, H. lilliputanum are endoparasitic nematophagous fungi that have been isolated previously from the forest soil. Acrostalagmus gonoides, A. obovatus, Cephalosporium balanoides, and Monacrosporium cionopagum are nematophagous fungal species that had not been isolated previously from Illinois soil. Soil pH's and soil nutrient levels were not important in the isolation frequency of the collected endoparasitic nematode destroying fungi.     

Investigation of keratinophilic fungi from soils in Western Australia a preliminary survey

In order to determine which species of geophilic dermatophytes were present in Western Australian soils 299 samples were investigated. These samples were collected from a range of locations, 208 from towns throughout the state and 91 samples from the Perth Metropolitan area.Most samples were collected from areas frequented by people and animals, such as home gardens, parks and animal yards.Of the total 299 soils, 271 (90.6 %) yielded keratinophilic fungi. A total of 181 dermatophytes were isolated, and there were 205 isolations of other keratinophilic fungi. Microsporum gypseum (30.7 %) was the most prevalent dermatophyte recovered from soil followed byMicrosporum cookei (21.7 %) and thenTrichophyton ajelloi (8.0 %). No other dermatophytes were recovered.Chrysosporium indicum was the most common of all the keratinophilic fungi and was isolated from 50.1 % of the samples. Mixed growth was obtained from 33.5 % of the soil samples.     

Incidence of dermatophytes and cyclohexamide resistantfungi on healthy children hairs and nails in nurseries

In order to estimate the prevalence of dermatophytes and other fungi on healthy children hairs and nails, 92 hair samples and 85 nail samples (groups of 10 finger nails from each child) were collected from 5 nurseries (children aged 9 months up to 4 years) in Assiut city. From hair samples 22 species were collected, Trichophyton (2 species) and Microsporum (2 species) were the only recovered dermatophytes in addition to well known keratinophilic genus Chrysosporium (4 species). From nail samples, 18 species were identified, Trichophyton was represented by 4 species, Microsporum, 2 species and Chrysosporium, 4 species. Also, several other saprophytes and cycloheximide resistant fungi were isolated. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi in the soils of Papua New Guinea

A study was made of soil samples collected during an expedition to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Fungi were isolated from the samples by the method of hair baiting (To-Ka-Va). Of the 33 species isolated, about half showed keratinolytic activity. Such activity is previously unreported for Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Myrothecium roridum, Paecilomyces carneus, P. marquandii, Penicillium brevicompactum, Rhinocladiella mansonii and Verticillium lecanii. The species most active keratinolytically were Chrysosporium an. Arthroderma cuniculi, C. an. A. curreyi, C. indicum, Myceliophthora vellerea and Trichophyton ajelloi. The spectrum of fungi with keratinolytic activity isolated from the different sites differed considerably according to the frequency of use by man, heaviest use being correlated with greatest activity. The pH of the soil (varying from 5.8–7.5) had little influence on the type of such fungi isolated.     

The Occurrence of Fungi in the Recently Discovered Jarkowicka Cave in the Karkonosze Mts. (Poland)

Our study is one of the very few cases of speleomycological research in recently discovered caves. The aim of this research was to assess the population size of fungal colonies and their species composition in the Jarkowicka cave, discovered in 2012. The air samples were taken from one location outside the cave and from two locations inside of it. Mycological evaluation of the rocks inside the cave was performed usingswab sampling procedure. In the Jarkowicka cave we found 22 species of fungi, including 13 isolated from air at the entrance and from the walls, and 8 species from air inside the cave. Cladosporium spp. were the fungi most frequently isolated from internal atmosphere of the Jarkowicka cave, and from the external air. On the other hand, the fungi most frequently isolated from the rocks were Mucor spp. We found several species not yet described as cave inhabitants: Hypocrea pachybasioides, Cladosporium uredinicola, and Embellisia abundans. Our study may provide a basis for comparison to other similar studies conducted in frequently visited caves by tourists.     

Assessment of Abundance and Species Composition of Filamentous Fungi in the Underground Rzeczka Complex in Sowie Mountains (Lower Silesia,Poland)

Our study is the first mycological evaluation of the air and the rocks in the underground Rzeczka complex in Sowie Mountains (Lower Silesia, Poland). The density of filamentous fungi isolated from the air inside and outside the adit ranged between 245.5 to 1332.6 Colony Forming Units in 1 m³ of air. Sixteen species of filamentous fungi were isolated from the internal air sampled and 11 from the outside of the adit. Cladosporium spp. were the fungi most frequently isolated from the internal atmosphere of the adit and from the external air. From the rock walls and from the rock debris on the floor of the adit only seven species of fungi were isolated. The fungi most frequently isolated from the rock walls were the Aspergillus niger group and from the rock debris we also found A. niger group along with species of Mucor. The concentration of airborne fungi in the adit did not exceed official limits and norms present for a health risk to the tourists, but fungi species isolated from the rocks can cause their degradation.     

The isolation of keratinophilic fungi from African soils

Summary Twenty-seven soil samples from Kenya and 9 from Egypt were investigated for the presence of keratinophilic and pathogenic fungi. No systemic pathogenic fungi was obtained, while a total of 25 dermatophytes belonging to four species was isolated. The majority of the Kenya isolates belonged toM. gypseum, while Egyptian isolates belonged toT. mentagrophytes. Shady sites frequented by humans or animals produced higher incidences of dermatophytes in Kenya than those of the unshady isolated areas.     

The use of cortisone-treated mice in the screening of soil for pathogenic fungi

Summary Fifty-seven samples of desert soils were screened for pathogenic fungi by injection into cortisone-treated and non-treated mice. Four samples yielded pathogenic fungi in the cortisone-treated mice only.Nocardia asteroides was isolated from the cortisone-treated mice and from the controls. All of the cortisone-treated and the control mice injected with soil from the root zone of a dead century plant became critically ill very shortly after injection and cultures from all of the animals showed a variety of fungi. Seven species were isolated from the cortisone-treated animals and 5 species from the controls.The yeast,Torulopsis glabrata, was found in 69 of the 225 control mice and in 115 of the 213 cortisone-treated animals that came to autopsy. This organism was not considered to have been derived from the soil.The results appear to justify the conclusion that this method of soil screening deserves further consideration and study.     

Thermophillic and thermotolerant fungi isolated from the thermal effluent of nuclear power generating reactors: Dispersal of human opportunistic and veterinary pathogenic fungi

Over a period of a year, samples of water, foam, microbial mat, soil and air were obtained from areas associated with the cooling canal of a nuclear power station. The seventeen sample sites included water in the cooling canal that was thermally enriched and soil and water adjacent to, upstream, downstream and at a distance from the generator. Air samples were taken at the plant and at various disstances from the plant. Fifty-two species of thermotolerant and thermophilic fungi were isolated. Of these, eleven species are grouped as opportunistic Mucorales or opportunistic Aspergillus sp. One veterinary pathogen was also isolated (Dactylaria gallopava):The opportunistic/pathogenic fungi were found primarily in the intake bay, the discharge bay and the cooling canal. Smaller numbers were obtained at both upstream and downstream locations. Soil samples near the cooling canal reflected an enrichment of thermophilous organisms, the previously mentioned opportunistic Mucorales and Aspergillus spp. Their numbers were found to be greater than that usually encountered in a mesophilic environment. However, air and soil samples taken at various distances from the power station indicated no greater abundance of these thermophilous fungi than would be expected from a thermal enriched environment. Our results indicate that there was no significant dissemination of thermophilous fungi from the thermal enriched effluents to the adjacent environment. These findings are consistent with the results of other investigators.     

Distribution and characterisation of entomopathogenic fungi from Korean soils

We investigated the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in 1080 soil samples representing multiple locations and conditions in Korea. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soils using a selective medium containing dodine and antibiotics. Following an initial identification based on morphology, the fungal isolates were more precisely identified by the sequence of their nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. As a result, entomopathogenic fungi were found to occur in 32% (342 isolates) of the soil samples studied. The most abundant species were Beauveria spp. (125 isolates) and Metarhizium spp. (82 isolates). Entomopathogenic fungi were more often recovered from natural mountain and riparian soils than from agricultural habitats. The pathogenicity of isolated fungi was evaluated by using wax moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It was determined that 60% (207 isolates) of the isolates were pathogenic using this model. These entomopathogenic fungi may, therefore, have potential use against a variety of agricultural pests. This is the first study of the isolation and distribution of entomopathogenic fungi in representative sampling locations throughout Korea.     

Studies on the distribution of alkalophilic and alkali-tolerant soil fungi II: Fungal flora in two limestone caves in Japan

In a series of studies on the distribution of alkalophilic and alkali-tolerant fungi, soil fungi were isolated from five alkaline calcareous soil samples in two closely located limestone caves (stalactite caves) in Japan using slightly acidic and alkaline media. Some common soil fungi that can grow in alkaline conditions were obtained in high frequencies. The growth response to pH of the isolates revealed that approximately one third (30.8%) of the isolates had the optimum pH in the alkaline range. All isolates of fourAcremonium species and twoChrysosporium species grew well in alkaline conditions, of whichAcremonium sp. andChrysosporium sp. were pronounced alkalophiles. These fungi were thought to be indigenous species in this alkaline environment. The fungal flora in the Japanese alkaline soils was considerably different from the flora reported in alkaline environments in other countries.     

Marine mycoflora of south India with special emphasis on lignicolous marine fungi

A study dealing with the marine fungi associated with decaying wood samples in the brackish water mangrove ecosystem and shoreline ecosystem was carried out in south India. A total of 19 marine fungi were isolated from the brackish water mangrove ecosystem. They included 13 Ascomycetes, one Basidiomycete and five Mitosporic fungi. In terms of percent frequency of occurrence, the most frequent species obtained from the brackishwater were the Lignincola longirostris (16.60%) and Savoryella lignicola (12.09%). Nine species were found frequently. Five species were occasionally encountered. Aigialus mangrovei, Aniptodera mangrovei and Halosarpheia marina were the rare species recorded. The average number of isolates per wood sample was 1.53. A total of 27 marine fungi including 15 ascomycetes, one basidiomycete and ten mitosporic fungi were recorded from the shoreline ecosystem. In terms of percent frequency of occurrence, the most frequent species obtained from Kanyakumari were the Arenariomyces trifurcates (13.66%), Corollospora maritima (12.44%), and Cirrenalia pygmea (10.98%). Seven species were found frequently. Fourteen species were occasionally encountered. Three species were found to be rare in occurrence. The average number of isolates per wood sample was 1.21.     

云南三个地区马铃薯内生真菌多样性研究

为研究云南马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)内生真菌的多样性,该文以采自云南省德宏芒市、大理喜洲和临沧双江3个地区的马铃薯植株为研究对象,采用组织块分离法、尖端菌丝挑取法对马铃薯根、茎及块茎中的内生真菌进行分离纯化,并采用形态学鉴定方法和ITS序列分析法对分离得到的内生真菌进行鉴定,对内生真菌的定殖率、分离率及多样性指数进行计算和分析。结果表明:(1)共分离得到内生真菌98株,其中从德宏芒市的样品中获得40株,从大理喜洲的样品中获得27株,从临沧双江的样品中获得31株。(2)经鉴定,分离得到的马铃薯内生真菌共涵盖10目10科13属,大多为子囊菌门和担子菌门,优势菌为镰刀菌属(Fusarium)和青霉属(Penicillium),褶皱裸孢壳(Emericella rugulosa)、接骨木镰刀菌(Fusarium sambucinum)、毛韧革菌(Stereum hirsutum)、Psathyrella sulcatotuberculosa和Epicoccum catenisporum 5种真菌均为首次从马铃薯植株中分离得到。(3)马铃薯块茎内生真菌的定殖率最高,根部内生真菌定殖率最低; 内生真菌的分离率以马铃薯根部为最高,而茎部最低; 不同组织中内生真菌的多样性指数趋势均为根>块茎>茎。从综合来看,云南马铃薯植株中的内生真菌具有较高的多样性,不同地区的马铃薯样品中内生真菌优势菌不同,马铃薯根部具有最丰富的内生真菌种群和最高的分离率,是最适合进行内生真菌分离的材料。该研究结果为后期探究马铃薯内生真菌对病原菌的拮抗作用奠定了基础,也为马铃薯内生真菌多样性研究提供了参考数据。     

Ophiostomatoid fungi isolated from Japanese red pine and their relationships with bark beetles

We isolated ophiostomatoid fungi from bark beetles infesting Pinus densiflora and their galleries at 24 sites in Japan. Twenty-one ophiostomatoid fungi, including species of Ophiostoma, Grosmannia, Ceratocystiopsis, Leptographium, and Pesotum, were identified. Among these, 11 species were either newly recorded in Japan or were previously undescribed species. Some of these fungal species were isolated from several bark beetles, but other species were isolated from only a particular beetle species. Thus, it is suggested that some ophiostomatoid fungi have specific relationships with particular beetle species. In addition, fungus-beetle biplots from redundancy analysis (RDA) summarizing the effects of beetle ecological characteristics suggested that the association patterns between bark beetles and the associated fungi seemed to be related to the niches occupied by the beetles.     

How relevant are house dust mite-fungal interactions in laboratory culture to the natural dust system?

Both house dust and house dust mitesDermatophagoides pteronyssinus contained a wider range of fungi than laboratory mite cultures. In total, nine species of fungi were isolated fromD. pteronyssinus in house dust, and these included three xerophilic species (Eurotium amstelodami, Aspergillus penicillioides andWallemia sebi) commonly found in laboratory cultures ofD. pteronyssinus. It is concluded that mites do interact with a similar range of fungi in natural dust and in laboratory culture, but that the diversity of fungal species in the laboratory is reduced and the density of individual fungal species in culture exceeds that of house dust. In a second experiment, dust samples were incubated at room temperature with 75% relative humidity. The diversity of fungi invariably declined from up to 13 genera to the few species recorded in laboratory culture. This suggests that the dominance of xerophilic fungi in laboratory mite rearings is mediated primarily by low relative humidity, and the exclusion of air-borne spores.     

Filamentous Fungi Associated with Bivalve Mollusks from Polluted Biotopes of Ussuriiskii Bay,Sea of Japan

We have studied for the first time the taxonomic composition of filamentous fungi associated with the bivalve mollusks Crenomytilus grayanus (Bunker, 1853) and Modiolus modiolus (Linnaeus, 1758), collected in polluted biotopes of Ussuriiskii Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). One hundred fifty-five strains of higher fungi were isolated, and 35 species of filamentous fungi were identified. Out of these, 28 species were anamorphous fungi of the genera Aspergillus (12), Penicillium (10), Acremonium (1), Alternaria (1), Aureobasidium (1), and Cladosporium (3) (Deuteromycota), and 7 were species of the genera Chaetomium (6) and Myxotrichum (1) (Ascomycota). Twenty-four species of filamentous fungi were isolated from the internal organs of C. grayanus: 8 from the muscles, 8 from the hepatopancreas, 6 from the female gonads, 4 from the mantle, 3 from the kidneys and male gonads, and 1 from the gills. Twenty-one species of filamentous fungi were isolated from the internal organs of Modiolus modiolus: 10 from the muscles, 6 from the hepatopancreas, 5 from the female gonads, 3 from the kidneys, 3 from the mantle, and 1 from the gills. The bulk of the isolated species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Chaetomium were pathogenic and toxigenic fungi.     

Survey of bovine mycotic mastitis in dairy herds in the State of São Paulo,Brazil

The purpose of this study was to isolate fungi from the quarter milk of cow udders from several dairy herds and to identify the different genera and species involved in mastitis. A total of 2078 milk samples from normal, clinical and subclinical mastitis quarters from 22 dairy herds of 16 districts in the State of São Paulo, Brazil was utilized in this survey. Two hundred and fifty one (12.07%) fungi were isolated from the samples. Two hundred and eight of these (82.86%) were yeasts and 30 (11.95%) were moulds. The fungi were isolated in pure culture (24.77%) or in cultures mixed with bacteria (72.22%). The yeasts isolated were:Cryptococcus spp. (71 strains),Rhodotorula spp. (40),Candida spp. (68),Trichosporon cutaneum (21),Aureobasidium pullulans (7), andPichia ohmeri (1). Moulds classified in following genera were also isolated:Aspergillus (3),Penicillium (3),Alternaria (3),Phoma (3),Epicoccum (2), andGeotrichum (16).     

Ecological and enzymatic studies on fungi associated with biscuits in Egypt

Some 43 species and four varieties belonging to nineteen genera were collected from 30 samples of six types of biscuit on 30% sucrose and 1% starch Czapek-Dox agars at 28°C. The most contaminated samples were chocolate wafers with 327 and 195 colonies g⁻¹, 12 and 8 genara and 18 and 13 species on the media, respectively. Samples of wafers without jam and jam wafers were less contaminated with fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi on the two media were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus alutaceus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. sydowii, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. janczewskii and yeasts (Saccharomyces spp.). The osmophiles, Eurotium amstelodami and E. repens, were infrequently isolated from chocolates and jam-wafer biscuits.All 69 isolates tested produced invertase and could produce 90%, respectively, amylase, caseinase, and catalase.