Affiliation: | 1. Laboratoire de Biologie des Systèmes Microbiens, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Kouba, Alger, Algeria;2. Applied Mycology Group, Environment and AgriFood Theme, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France;3. Laboratoire de Biologie des Systèmes Microbiens, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Kouba, Alger, Algeria Département de Biologie et Physiologie Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Saad Dahlab, Blida, Algeria;4. Laboratoire de Biologie des Systèmes Microbiens, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Kouba, Alger, Algeria Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie des Organismes, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene Bab Ezzouar (USTHB), Algiers, Algeria;5. Applied Mycology Group, Environment and AgriFood Theme, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK |
Abstract: | In Algeria, little information is available on the population structure of Aspergillus section Flavi in raw materials and resultant animal feeds. A total of 172 isolates belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi were recovered from 57 animal feeds and identified on the basis of macro and micro-morphological characters, mycotoxin production and genetic relatedness. For the molecular analysis, sequencing of the calmodulin gene (CaM) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were performed for representative isolates. Four distinct morphotypes were distinguished: Aspergillus flavus (78.5%), Aspergillus tamarii (19.2%), Aspergillus parasiticus (1.7%), and Aspergillus alliaceus (0.6%). All A. flavus isolates were of the L type and no correlation between sclerotia production and aflatoxigenicity was observed. Our results showed that 68% of the A. flavus strains produced aflatoxins B (AFB), and 72.7% were cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) producers. The three isolates of A. parasiticus were able to produce AFB and aflatoxins G but not CPA whereas, all the strains of A. tamarii produced only CPA. The obtained results revealed the presence of different species of Aspergillus section Flavi, among which were aflatoxin producers. This study provides evidence useful for considerations in aflatoxin control strategies. |