Aspergillus species are the main causing agents of invasive apergillosis chest disease. Eighty isolates of Aspergillus species, A. flavus (20), A. fumigatus (15), A. niger (30) and A. terreus (15 isolates), previously isolated and identified from aspergillosis suspected patients at our lab in Assiut university hospitals, were assayed for their enzymes and toxins profile. The results revealed that, all of the tested isolates were able to utilize calf lung tissue and produce catalase and peroxidase enzymes. Meanwhile, 82.5-90% of the fungal isolates had the ability to produce protease, lipase, urease and phospholipase, whereas, 70% of isolates exhibited hemolytic activities. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the cleaned extracts of the tested isolates exhibited the ability of all A. flavus isolates assayed to produce aflatoxins B1 and G1, 53%, moreover, A. fumigatus isolates produced fumagillin and gliotoxin. On the other side, 43.3% and 23.3% of A. niger isolates produced ochratoxins and gliotoxin respectively. Virulence assay of 10 µl of gliotoxin standard and cleaned extracts of A. fumigatus toxic isolates showed necrotic area on Guinea Pigs lungs compared to the control. Thus, opportunistic fungi isolated from aspergillosis patients possess high enzymatic and toxic profile that might play an important role in their mycopathy.
Aspergillosis remains one of the most challenging areas of illness. It has recently emerged as a world-wide health care problem, owing to extensive use of broad spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressive agents and increasing population of terminally ill and debilitated patients. The ultimate aim of this investigation is to minimize morbidity and mortality of mechanically ventilated aspergillosis suspected patients, who have been notoriously difficult to be diagnosed and treated, by developing an accurate and easy diagnostic tool comparable to other conventional methods. Two hundred twenty seven suspected aspergillosis patients were screened for fungal infection using different conventional tools to evaluate different respiratory specimens sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, plural fluid, blood, biopsy and ELISA technique for galactomannan and (1-3)-β-D-glucan antigens in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage. Four Aspergillus species (A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. terreus) were isolated and identified morphologically and genetically using the conventional diagnostic tools from suspected patients in all positive cultures. The results of the exhalation air of twenty three mechanically ventilated aspergillosis suspected patients came in accordance with those of the conventional methods used. Thus, exhalation air culture is an easily performed bedside tool for diagnosis of aspergillosis in ventilated patients.
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