Abstract A description is provided for Aspergillus flavus . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: The fungus normally occurs as a saprophyte in soil and on many kinds of decaying organic matter causing no economic damage or disease. However, on occasion it may act as a spoilage organism of stored seeds and grains, including Arachis hypogaea (groundnut), Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut), Cicer arietinum, Cucurbita pepo, Elaeis guineensis, Oryza sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Sorghum spp., Theobroma cacao, Triticum spp., Vigna sinensis [Vigna unguiculata] and Zea mays (Herb. IMI), or become pathogenic to seedling plants as well as to man, cattle, birds and insects. DISEASES: On man and animals : The infection is most often pulmonary as in pigeon and turkey (Ainsworth & Austwick; RMVM 2, 1721) and captive wild birds (Ainsworth & Rewell; RMVM 1, 2090) or general as in broiler chickens (Stock, Avian Dis . 5: 89-93, 1961). Other types include bronchial infections, endocarditis and infections of the ear (Wolf; RMVM 1, 1095), brain, skin, nail, eye (Fazakaz; RMVM 4, 1084) and orbit in man and infection of the bovine placenta (see Austwick, 1965, p. 101). Aspergillus flavus is regarded as an important pathogen of insects (Austwick, 1965, p. 101-102). On plants : A limited amount of invasion of unblemished, intact, immature or mature groundnut pods has been recorded in the southern U.S.A. in the field. Diener et al. (1965) found that the invasion of overmature kernels and shells before harvest was reduced when rainfall was abundant and well distributed and when temperatures were moderate. It has been found to attack germinated groundnuts in the seed bed, particularly after injury to the seed coat or cotyledon (Clinton, 1960) and has also been reported highly pathogenic to cotton seedlings (37: 662). It has been isolated from rhizospheres of Viciafaba in Egypt (Herb.IMI). Aflatoxin production . Some strains when growing on groundnuts produce a toxin, afiatoxin. Toxic groundnuts induce disease in turkeys and ducklings (RMVM 4, 908) and Lancaster et al. (1961) demonstrated carcinogenic effects on rats fed on a diet containing 20% toxic groundnut meal. Aflatoxin has a large literature, see Austwick (in Raper & Fennell 1965, p. 106-109); RMVM: numerous papers, books and symposiums particularly, RMVM 4, 1731; Austwick & Ayerst, RMVM 4, 1732; 5, 1618; Wogan, 1965. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: World-wide, particularly in tropical soils.
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