Fist report on fumagillin production by Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto gliotoxigenic strains recovered from raw cow milk and clinical samples in Argentina

En Argentina no existen reportes sobre cepas de Aspergillus fumigatus productoras de fumagilina. En este trabajo se describe el aislamiento y la producción de dicha micotoxina por 10 cepas, provenientes del medioambiente rural y aisladas de muestras clínicas. Las cepas de origen rural fueron aisladas de vacas lecheras en tambos de la provincia de Córdoba, y algunas de esas cepas se asociaron a casos de mastitis subclínica. Se definió la composición de un medio de cultivo para optimizar la producción de fumagilina y se desarrolló un método de cromatografía HPLC para su determinación. Es conocido que, además del estado inmunitario del huésped, la virulencia de la cepa es una de las características fundamentales que determinan su potencial patogénico y, en este sentido, la fumagilina es considerada un factor de virulencia. En el presente trabajo todas las cepas estudiadas fueron capaces de sintetizarla y la cepa A. fumigatus RC2243, proveniente de leche de una vaca con mastitis subclínica, se destacó como la cepa más productora. La existencia de cepas productoras de fumagillina representa un riesgo potencial por el pasaje de dicha micotoxina a la leche, lo cual constituye un problema para la salud pública.In Argentina there are no reports on Aspergillus fumigatus fumagillin producing strains. In this work we describe the isolation and mycotoxin production capacity of ten A. fumigatus strains, associated with farm and clinical origin. Farm strains were isolated in dairy calves in Córdoba province from dairy cow milk, some of which were associated with sub clinical mastitis. A culture medium was defined to optimize fumagillin production and a detection method was developed by HPLC chromatography. It is known that in addition to the immune status of the host, the virulence of the strain is a fundamental characteristic that will determine its pathogenicity and in this sense, fumagillin is considered within the virulence factors. In the present work, all the strains tested for the production of fumagillin were able to synthesize it, highlighting that the strain A. fumigatus RC2243, from a sample of cow´s milk with clinical mastitis, was the most productive. The existence of fumagillin-producing strains represents a potential risk of passing mycotoxins into raw milk, constituting a risk to public health.Fil: Alonso, Veronica Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomia y Veterinaria. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias.; ArgentinaFil: Velasco Manini, Marina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología. Cátedra de Micología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Exposición crónica a hongos productores de aflatoxinas relacionada a daños hepáticos en chinchillas (chinchilla lanigera) destinadas a la producción de piel

Chinchilla pelt is a rare and expensive fur. Therefore, breeding these animals is a profitable activity. Confirmed acute cases of aflatoxin intoxication have been reported in Argentinean farms. The aims of this study were i) to evaluate mycobiota and AFB1 -producing species in chinchilla feeds ii) to investigate their natural AFB1 contamination and iii) to analyze histopathological lesions in chinchilla livers. Feed samples (A: fur chinchillas, B: mother chinchillas, C: lucerne cubes) were collected from a factory and a farm. Livers of sacrificed chinchilla from the farm were macroscopically and microscopically examined. Total fungal counts of feed C exceeded 1x104 CFU g-1. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were the prevalent genera, while A. flavus, A. fumigatus, F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum were the prevalent species. 50 % of A. flavus strains from factory samples and 69.7 % from farm samples produced 2.78 to 8. 64 µg g-1 and 0.66 to 58.8 µg g-1 AFB1 , respectively. Aflatoxin B1 was detected only in feeds from the farm, finding the highest incidence in feed C. Toxin levels varied between 1.90 and 97.34 µg kg-1 AFB1 . Mean levels in feed A and C exceeded 20 µg kg-1. Macroscopic examination of livers revealed normal appearance, size and color. However, histopathological examination indicated 63.3 % showed slight to moderate lipid degeneration with diffuse cytoplasm vacuolation, 9 % intense lipid cytoplasm vacuolation and 27.3 % hydropic degeneration and nuclear vacuolation in hepatocytes. A periodic monitoring of aflatoxins in feeds and their ingredients can prevent acute outbreaks and economic losses caused by chronic exposure.La piel de chinchilla es una de las más exóticas y apreciadas en el mercado internacional. La cría de estos animales es una actividad muy rentable. En Argentina, se han detectado casos de aflatoxicosis aguda en criaderos. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: i) estudiar la micobiota y los hongos productores de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1 ) presentes en alimento para chinchillas. ii) analizar la contaminación natural con AFB1 de estos alimentos iii) buscar lesiones histopatológicas en hígados de chinchillas de los criaderos. Se recolectaron muestras de diferentes alimentos (A: chinchilla piel, B: chinchilla madre, C: cubos de alfalfa) en una fábrica y un criadero localizados en la ciudad de Rio Cuarto, en la región central de Argentina. Los hígados de las chinchillas sacrificadas en el criadero fueron analizados macroscópica y microscópicamente. Los recuentos fúngicos totales fueron mayores a 1x104 UFC g-1. Aspergillus, Fusarium y Penicillium fueron los géneros prevalentes, mientras que A. flavus, A. fumigatus, F. verticillioides y F. proliferatum fueron las especies aisladas con mayor frecuencia. 50 % de las cepas de A. flavus aisladas de la fábrica y 69.7 % de las aisladas del criadero produjeron 2.78 a 8.64 µg g-1 y 0.66 a 58.8 µg g-1 de AFB1 , respectivamente. Se detectó AFB1 sólo en las muestras del criadero, con mayor incidencia en el alimento C. Los niveles de toxina variaron entre 1.90 y 97.34 µg kg-1. Los niveles promedios en A y C fueron superiores a 20 µg kg-1. El análisis macroscópico de los hígados reveló apariencia, tamaño y color normal. El análisis microscópico indicó que 63.3 % de los hígados presentaron degeneración lipídica leve a moderada con vacuolización difusa del citoplasma, 9 % presentaron vacuolización lipídica intensa y 27.3 % degeneración hidrópica y vacuolización nuclear en los hepatocitos. El monitoreo periódico de La calidad de los alimentos e ingredientes usados en la alimentación de chinchillas puede evitar intoxicaciones agudas y pérdidas económicas causadas por la exposición crónica a aflatoxinas.Fil: Landa, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Pereyra, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bagnis, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Carlos Alberto da Rocha. Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas Científicas; BrasilFil: Dalcero, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Effect of interacting conditions of water activity, temperature and incubation time on Fusarium thapsinum and Fusarium andiyazi growth and toxin production on sorghum grains

This study examined the effect of interacting conditions of water activity (aW, 0.995, 0.98 and 0.95) and temperature (15, 25 and 30 °C) on growth rate of two Fusarium thapsinum and one F. andiyazi strains isolated from sorghum in Argentina. In addition, the effect of interacting conditions (aW × temperature × incubation time (7, 14, 21 and 28 days)) on mycotoxin production (moniliformin (MON), fusaric acid (FA) and fusarin C (FUS C)) on a sorghum grain substrate was evaluated. Statistical analysis showed that aW and temperature significantly affected growth of both species, mainly the aW. Incubation time significantly influenced mycotoxin production by both species as well, mostly for FA. Maximum growth rates of the F. thapsinum strains were obtained at the highest aW (0.995) and 25 °C and growth rate decreased as aW and temperature were reduced. The same growth profile was observed for F. andiyazi RCFA09 (maximum growth rates at 0.995–25 °C). Mycotoxin production by both species was detected at the highest aW levels whereas at 0.95 aW only low amounts of MON were produced by F. thapsinum. Maximum MON and FUS C production by both F. thapsinum strains was observed at 0.995 aW and 25–30 °C after 28 days of incubation. Also, F. thapsinum strains showed maximum FA production at the highest aW and temperature but after 14 days; after this incubation time toxin levels significantly decreased. The responses to aW and temperature of F. andiyazi were similar to that of F. thapsinum strains in relation to FA and FUS C production. Maximum levels of FA were detected at the highest aW after 14 days of incubation at 25–30 °C. Fusarin C was produced at all assayed temperatures but maximum levels were detected at 30 °C and 0.995 aW after 28 days of incubation. Two-dimensional profiles on the interactions of aW by temperature were developed from these data to identify conditions that indicate a significant risk from MON, FA and FUS C accumulation on sorghum grains. The results of this study suggest that sorghum grains could be colonized by these species and toxin production can occur, especially during development stages under field conditions at high water activity of grains or during grain storage if the drying process is slow or deficient. To our knowledge, this study described for the first time FUS C production by F. thapsinum and F. andiyazi under interacting conditions of aW, temperature and incubation time on sorghum grains.Fil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Sulyok, Michael. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics. Department of Agrobiotechnology; AustriaFil: Chulze, Sofia Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; Argentin

Fusarium species and moniliformin occurrence in sorghum grains used as ingredient for animal feed in Argentina

BACKGROUND: A survey on Fusarium species and moniliformin (MON) occurrence in sorghum grains collected from one of the main sorghum-producing areas of Argentina was conducted. Also, growth of F. thapsinum, one of the main sorghum pathogens, and MON production under different water activity (aw) conditions on a sorghum-based medium were determined. RESULTS: Infection of sorghum grains by Fusarium species ranged from 82.5 to 99%; closely related species F. verticillioides, F. thapsinum and F. andiyazi were the most frequently recovered, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. By sequencing a portion of the translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) gene and by maximum parsimony analysis, F. verticillioides and closely related species were identified as F. thapsinum, F. andiyazi and F. verticillioides. Species within the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) were isolated in high frequency. Maximum growth rates of 12 F. thapsinum strains were obtained at 0.995 aw. All evaluated strains were able to produce MON at all aw values tested, but MON production was higher at 0.995–0.982 aw. MON was detected in 41% of the samples at levels ranging from 363.2 to 914.2 µg kg−1. CONCLUSION: This study provides new data on the occurrence of Fusarium species in sorghum grains destined for animal consumption in Argentina. The production of MON at different aw values showed that the toxin can be produced under field conditions. The risk to livestock exposed to daily low levels of MON associated with the toxin occurrence in the sorghum grains analyzed is unknown.Fil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Chulze, Sofia Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentin

Effect of indigenous mycobiota on ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus carbonarius isolated from soil

This study determined the biotic interaction between 30 non-toxigenic indigenous strains of Aspergillus niger aggregate, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma spp., Mucor spp., Cladosporium spp., Ulocladium spp., Curvularia spp., Absidia spp., Geotrichum spp. and Acremonium spp., isolated from soil destined for maize crops, with respect to their ability to prevent ochratoxin A (OTA) production by A. carbonarius on “in vitro” assay, on liquid and solid medium. OTA production was completely inhibited when A. carbonarius was inoculated in a interactive mixed culture with all A. niger aggregate strains assayed, a 80 % of Trichoderma spp. strains, a 40 % of Cladosporium spp. strains, Acremonium spp and Geotrichum spp; only one strain of A. flavus tested was able to completely inhibit the mycotoxin accumulation. OTA production increased when A. carbonarius ACS 8 was growing on liquid interactive mixed culture with Mucor spp strains. These results demonstrated that OTA production by Aspergillua carbonarius strain was significantly influenced by the presence of different non-toxigenic fungal strains when growing together on paired cultures.Fil: Barberis, Carla Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carranza, Cecilia Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Magnoli, Carina Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Isolation and characterization of microorganisms to control Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, a phytopathogen in tomato

El tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) es una de las hortalizas más consumidas a nivel mundial, de gran valor económico por el gran número de productos que se obtienen a partir de la materia prima. Este cultivo es afectado por diversos factores que afectan la producción y el rendimiento, entre éstos, son relevantes los patógenos fúngicos, como Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), causante de marchitez vascular. El control de patógenos fúngicos se realiza mediante el uso de variedades resistentes y el control químico, pero su efectividad a veces no es óptima; sumado a la necesidad de implementar prácticas más amigables con el medioambiente, el control biológico se propone como estrategia alternativa para el control de la enfermedad. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron: 1- Aislar potenciales agentes de biocontrol a partir de suelos con manejo agroecológico, 2- Seleccionar potenciales microorganismos antagonistas utilizando la técnica del Índice de Dominancia (ID) en placa de Petri sobre dos cepas patogénicas de Fol, y 3- Caracterizar diversas actividades metabólicas microbianas de interés en control biológico. Se aislaron microorganismos en diversos medios de cultivo, los cuales fueron luego enfrentados a las cepas patogénicas en los cultivos duales de ID, observando tanto inhibición del crecimiento como alteraciones en la pared celular fúngica al microscopio óptico. Se evaluó la capacidad de producción de quitinasas, glucanasas, amilasas, celulasas y lipasas, la producción de sideróforos y compuestos volátiles. Se seleccionaron varias cepas con gran potencial para ser evaluadas en futuros ensayos in situ.Fil: Reynoso, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Chulze, Sofia Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Palazzini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaIII Reunión Argentina de MicologíaCordobaArgentinaAsociación Micológica Carlos Spegazzin

Characterization and genetic variability of feed-borne and clinical animal/human Aspergillus fumigatus strains using molecular markers

Aspergillus fumigatus, the major etiological agent of human and animal aspergillosis, is a toxigenic fungus largely regarded as a single species by macroscopic and microscopic features. However, molecular studies have demonstrated that several morphologically identified A. fumigatus strains might be genetically distinct. This work was aimed to apply PCR-restriction length fragment polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers to characterize a set of feed-borne and clinical A. fumigatus sensu lato strains isolated from Argentina and Brazil and to determine and compare their genetic variability. All A. fumigatus strains had the same band profile and those typical of A. fumigatus sensu stricto positive controls by PCR-RFLP. Moreover, all Argentinian and Brazilian strains typified by RAPD showed similar band patterns to each other and to A. fumigatus sensu stricto reference strains regardless of their isolation source (animal feeds or human/animal clinical cases) and geographic origin. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.61 to 1.00, but almost all isolates showed 78% of genetic similarly suggesting that genetic variability was found at intraspecific level. Finally, benA sequencing confirmed its identification as A. fumigatus sensu stricto species. These results suggest that A. fumigatus sensu stricto is a predominant species into Aspergillus section Fumigati found in animal environments as well as in human/animal clinical cases, while other species may be rarely isolated. The strains involved in human and animal aspergillosis could come from the environment where this fungus is frequently found. Rural workers and animals would be constantly exposed.Fil: Pena, Gabriela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Coelho, Irene. Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas Científicas ; Brasil. Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Reynoso, Maria Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Soleiro, Carla. Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas Científicas ; Brasil. Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentin