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Gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus in the dairy herd environment

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Abstract

The potential association between hygienic conditions in the environment of lactating cows and the presence of gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus strains was studied. Milk samples (individual cow’s milk [ICM], bulk tank milk [BTM]) from 44 dairy farms were sampled. In ICM samples, eight different species of Aspergillus were identified. A. 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 BTM 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 forestrip**. The presence of A. fumigatus gliotoxin producers in milk was associated with high somatic cells count (SCC) samples. Good hygienic and sanitary practices were associated with absence of A. fumigatus and relatively low SCCs of <250,000 cells/ml. In general, a high percentage of dairy farms were positive for A. fumigatus in BTM samples. This is the first work that indicates the positive effects of adequate hygienic and sanitary practices in dairy herds on the control of A. fumigatus and related species. By reducing the frequency of Aspergillus spp. in the dairy environment, the risk of farm handlers’ exposure and the risk of intramammary fungal infections would also be reduced.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from SECYT-UNRC, FONCYT-PICT and PICT-CNPq. M. Pellegrino was in receipt of a fellowship from Agencia Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Buenos Aires. V. Alonso was in receipt of a fellowship from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CIC-CONICET), Buenos Aires. S.M. Chiacchiera and L. Cavaglieri are members of CIC-CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Argentina

    M. Pellegrino, V. Alonso, C. Bogni & L. Cavaglieri

  2. Departamento de Patología Animal, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Argentina

    C. Vissio & A. Larriestra

  3. Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina

    S. M. Chiacchiera

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  1. M. Pellegrino
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  2. V. Alonso
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  3. C. Vissio
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  4. A. Larriestra
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  5. S. M. Chiacchiera
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  6. C. Bogni
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  7. L. Cavaglieri
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Correspondence to L. Cavaglieri.

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Pellegrino, M., Alonso, V., Vissio, C. et al. Gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus in the dairy herd environment. Mycotoxin Res 29, 71–78 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-013-0162-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-013-0162-2

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