Gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus in dairy herd's environment.

PELLEGRINO M.S., ; ALONSO V.,; VISSIO C.,; LARRIESTRA A., ; CHIACCHIERA S.M.,; BOGNI C.I.,; CAVAGLIERI L.R.

Mycotoxin Research

Society for mycotoxin research

Lugar: London; Año: 2013 vol. 29 p. 71 - 78

0178-7888

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of gliotoxigenic A. fumigatus strains and associate them with some hygienic and sanitary practices s in the cow?s environment. Cow?s milk concerned to 44 dairy establishments was sampled to isolate fungal strains. Eight species of Aspergillus were identified from individual milk samples. Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus were predominant with 37.8% and 26.1% relative densities, respectively. A. fumigatus strains were isolated from 61.4% of the bulk milk tank samples and 34% of these strains were able to produce gliotoxin. Principal component analysis was used to associate the presence of A. fumigatus with some hygienic and sanitary practices. A significant and positive correlation was observed between dry cow therapy and foresttripping. Absence of A. fumigatus and Somatic Cells Counts lower than 250000 cells/ml were associated to some good hygienic and sanitary practices. The presence of A. fumigatus gliotoxin producers was mainly associated with high SCC samples. High percentage of dairy farms with A. fumigatus in tank milk was found. This is the first work that demonstrates that A. fumigatus and related species should be controlled by the implementation of adequate hygienic and sanitary practices in dairy herds. Moreover, the risk of farm handler?s exposure and their contribution to intrammamary infections would be avoided.