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Publication
Aspergillus flavus contamination in 2 Portuguese waste water treatment plants: an occupational threat
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Filamentous fungi from genus Aspergillus were previously detected in wastewater treatment
plants (WWTP) as being Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), an important toxigenic fungus producing
aflatoxins. This study aimed to determine occupational exposure adverse effects due to
fungal contamination produced by A. flavus complex in two Portuguese WWTP using conventional
and molecular methodologies. Air samples from two WWTP were collected at 1 m
height through impaction method. Surface samples were collected by swabbing surfaces of the same indoor sites. After counting A. flavus and identification, detection of aflatoxin production
was ensured through inoculation of seven inoculates in coconut-milk agar. Plates were
examined under long-wave ultraviolet (UV; 365 nm) illumination to search for the presence
of fluorescence in the growing colonies. To apply molecular methods, air samples were also
collected using the impinger method. Samples were collected and collection liquid was subsequently
used for DNA extraction. Molecular identification of A. flavus was achieved by
real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using the Rotor-Gene 6000 qPCR detection
system (Corbett). Among the Aspergillus genus, the species that were more abundant in air samples from both WWTP were Aspergillus versicolor (38%), Aspergillus candidus (29.1%),
and Aspergillus sydowii (12.7%). However, the most commonly species found on surfaces were
A. flavus (47.3%), Aspergillus fumigatus (34.4%), and Aspergillus sydowii (10.8%). Aspergillus flavus isolates that were inoculated in coconut agar medium were not identified as toxigenic
strains and were not detected by RT-PCR in any of the analyzed samples from both plants. Data
in this study indicate the need for monitoring fungal contamination in this setting. Although
toxigenic strains were not detected from A. flavus complex, one cannot disregard the eventual presence and potential toxicity of aflatoxins.
Description
Keywords
Aflatoxin Aspergillus Wastewater Treatment Plants Infecções Sistémicas e Zoonoses
Pedagogical Context
Citation
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2014;77(14-16):796-805. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2014.909300
Publisher
Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles