Detection of Aflatoxins Production by Some Opportunistic Fungi which Cause Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media(CSOM)

Abstract

This research was conducted to detect the ability of 221 clinical specimens which belong to 11 species in three genera of opportunistic fungi Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria isolated from patients of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media ( CSOM ), in the consultant of ( E.N.T. ) at Al-Diwaniya Teaching Hospital, Al-Diwaniya province, to produce aflatoxins. It was found that 11 species of the opportunistic fungi were able to produce the aflatoxins when grown on different media ( SDA, PDA & CZA ) under various temperature degrees ( 25, 30 & 35 °C ). Also, it was found that genus Aspergillus was the best one for the production of aflatoxins on CZA and under 35 °C. This result means that these fungi may behave as carcinogenic and mutagenic agents in the infected tissues, and use aflatoxins as virulent factors, especially in immune-deficient persons.