Risk assessment of secondary metabolites produced by fungi in the genus Stemphylium.

Abstract

The fungal genus Stemphylium (phylum Ascomycota, teleomorph Pleospora) includes plant pathogenic, endophytic, and saprophytic species with worldwide distributions. Stemphylium spp. produce prodigious numbers of airborne spores, so are a human health concern as allergens. Some species also produce secondary metabolites, such as glucosides, ferric chelates, aromatic polyketides, and others, that function as toxins that damage plants and other fungal species. Some of these compounds also exhibit a low level of mammalian toxicity. The high production of airborne spores by this genus can result in a high incidence of human exposure. Concern about toxin production appears to be the reason that Stemphylium vesicarium, which is a pathogen of several vegetable crops, was classified in Canada as a potential risk of harm to humans for many years. A detailed assessment of the risk of exposure was provided to the relevant regulatory body, the Public Health Agency of Canada, which then determined that Stemphylium spp. in nature or under laboratory conditions posed little to no risk to humans or animals, and the species was re-assigned as a basic (level 1) risk agent.