Aspergillus parasiticus
Aspergillus parasiticus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It is known for its ability to produce aflatoxins, which are potent carcinogens and can contaminate food supplies, posing significant health risks to humans and animals.
Description[edit | edit source]
Aspergillus parasiticus is a filamentous fungus that is commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. It is closely related to Aspergillus flavus, another aflatoxin-producing species. The colonies of A. parasiticus are typically green to yellow-green in color and have a powdery texture due to the production of conidia (asexual spores).
Habitat and Ecology[edit | edit source]
Aspergillus parasiticus thrives in warm and humid environments. It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, where it can contaminate crops such as peanuts, corn, and tree nuts. The fungus can grow on a variety of substrates, including stored grains and seeds, especially under conditions of high moisture and temperature.
Aflatoxin Production[edit | edit source]
Aspergillus parasiticus is one of the primary producers of aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1, which is the most toxic and carcinogenic form. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites that can contaminate food and feed, leading to aflatoxicosis in humans and animals. Chronic exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.
Health Implications[edit | edit source]
Exposure to aflatoxins produced by A. parasiticus can occur through the consumption of contaminated food products. Aflatoxins are highly stable and can persist in food even after processing. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies have established maximum allowable levels of aflatoxins in food to minimize health risks.
Prevention and Control[edit | edit source]
Preventing contamination by Aspergillus parasiticus involves proper agricultural practices, such as drying crops thoroughly before storage and maintaining low humidity levels in storage facilities. Biological control methods, such as using non-toxigenic strains of Aspergillus to outcompete toxigenic strains, are also being explored.
Also see[edit | edit source]
 | This fungus-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
