This week: Aspergillus Flavus
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Under The Scope
http://www.pureaircontrols.com/labserve/...
by Dr. Rajiv R. Sahay, EDLab Manager
Pure Air Control Services and the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory are pleased to introduce "Under the Scope", a new section of the IEQ REVIEW. There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.com
Aspergillus Flavus colonies are granular, flat, often with radial grooves, yellow at first but quickly becoming bright to dark yellow-green with age. Conidial heads are typically radiate, mostly 300-400 um in diameter, later splitting to form loose columns, biseriate but having some heads with phialides borne directly on the vesicle. Conidiophores are hyaline and coarsely roughened, the roughness often being more noticeable near the vesicle.
Clinical Relevance:
Aspergillus Flavus:This fungus is associated with aspergillosis of the lungs and/or disseminated aspergillosis. It is occasionally identified as the cause of corneal, otomycotic, and nasoorbital infections. Some strains are capable of producing a group of mycotoxins in the aflatoxin group. Aflatoxins are known animal carcinogens. There is limited evidence to suggest that this toxin is a human carcinogen. The toxin is poisonous to humans by ingestion. It may also result in occupational disease via inhalation. Experiments have indicated that it is teratogenic and mutagenic. It is toxic to the liver. The production of the fungal toxin in dependent on the growth conditions and the substrate used as a food source. A. flavus is the second most common species (next to A. fumigatus) to be isolated from human infections, and it is often associated with invasive aspergillosis seen in immunosuppressed patients and in paranasal sinus infections.
 
Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus flavus
Reference: University of Minnesota Environmental Safety and Health
For more information contact:
Alan L. Wozniak, CIAQP
(800) 422-7873 ext. 802
iaq@pureaircontrols.com
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