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Publication
Fungal contamination of poultry litter: a public health problem
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Although numerous studies have been conducted on microbial contaminants associated with
various stages related to poultry and meat products processing, only a few reported on fungal
contamination of poultry litter. The goals of this study were to (1) characterize litter fungal
contamination and (2) report the incidence of keratinophilic and toxigenic fungi presence.
Seven fresh and 14 aged litter samples were collected from 7 poultry farms. In addition, 27 air
samples of 25 litters were also collected through impaction method, and after laboratory processing
and incubation of collected samples, quantitative colony-forming units (CFU/m3) and
qualitative results were obtained. Twelve different fungal species were detected in fresh litter
and Penicillium was the most frequent genus found (59.9%), followed by Alternaria (17.8%),
Cladosporium (7.1%), and Aspergillus (5.7%). With respect to aged litter, 19 different fungal
species were detected, with Penicillium sp. the most frequently isolated (42.3%), followed
by Scopulariopsis sp. (38.3%), Trichosporon sp. (8.8%), and Aspergillus sp. (5.5%). A significant
positive correlation was found between litter fungal contamination (CFU/g) and air
fungal contamination (CFU/m3). Litter fungal quantification and species identification have
important implications in the evaluation of potential adverse health risks to exposed workers
and animals. Spreading of poultry litter in agricultural fields is a potential public health
concern, since keratinophilic (Scopulariopsis and Fusarium genus) as well as toxigenic fungi
(Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium genus) were isolated.
Description
Keywords
Fungi Poultry Occupational Exposure Litter Infecções Sistémicas e Zoonoses
Pedagogical Context
Citation
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2012;75(22-23):1341-50