Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus strains in Hungarian maize fields

Abstract

Due to the climate change, aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species and strains have appeared in several European countries, contaminating different agricultural commodities with aflatoxin. Our aim was to screen the presence of aflatoxigenic fungi in maize fields throughout the seven geographic regions of Hungary. Fungi belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi were isolated in the ratio of 26.9% and 42.3% from soil and maize samples in 2013, and these ratios decreased to 16.1% and 34.7% in 2014. Based on morphological characteristics and the sequence analysis of the partial calmodulin gene, all isolates proved to be Aspergillus flavus, except four strains, which were identified as Aspergillus parasiticus. About half of the A. flavus strains and all the A. parasiticus strains were able to synthesize aflatoxins. Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains were isolated from all the seven regions of Hungary. A. parasiticus strains were found in the soil of the regions Southern Great Plain and Southern Transdanubia and in a maize sample of the region Western Transdanubia. In spite of the fact that aflatoxins have rarely been detected in feeds and foods in Hungary, aflatoxigenic A. flavus and A. parasiticus strains are present in the maize culture throughout Hungary posing a potential threat to food safety.

Pre-Harvest Modelling and Mitigation of Aflatoxins in Maize in a Changing Climatic Environment—A Review

“…Data published in the most recent decade [23][24][25][26][27][28] confirmed the presence of toxigenic strains of A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination in agricultural products and soil samples in Hungary and other neighbouring countries of the Pannonian agro-ecological zone.…”

Antimicrobial Properties of Capsaicin: Available Data and Future Research Perspectives

“…The species of Aspergillus which are most relevant from a medical point of view are A. parasiticus and A. flavus, as they produce aflatoxins, secondary metabolites with harmful effects on both humans and animals [201], most notably carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and teratogenesis [202]. Due to climate change, these species of Aspergillus can now be found in the soil of many countries worldwide, including Europe [203,204]. Considering that the use of harmful synthetic insecticides is common practice for eliminating A. parasiticus, the need for more environment-friendly methods of eradication has emerged [205].…”

A Focus on Aflatoxin in Feedstuffs: New Developments in Analysis and Detection, Feed Composition Affecting Toxin Contamination, and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mitigate It

“…Finally, aflatoxins have rarely been detected in feeds and foods in Hungary. However, Sebök and coworkers analyzed several corn fields alongside Hungary between the years 2013 and 2014 and found the presence of aflatoxigenic fungi in corn and soil samples with isolation ratios of 26.9 to 16.1% and 42.3 to 34.7%, respectively, on both accounts [120]. The authors evaluated on the isolates the presence of partial calmodulin gene demonstrating the identity of the strains to be A. flavus (n = 110/114) and A. parasitcus (n = 4/114).…”