Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils

van der Torre, Mireille H.; Whitby, Cheryl; Eades, Christopher P.; Moore, Caroline B.; Novak-Frazer, Lilyann; Richardson, Malcolm D.; Rautemaa-Richardson, Riina

doi:10.3390/jof6040208

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Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils

Mireille H. van der Torre

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Malcolm D. Richardson

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Riina Rautemaa-Richardson

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Mycology Reference Centre Manchester, ECMM Centre of Excellence for Medical Mycology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK

Division of Infection, Inflammation and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK

Department of Infectious Diseases, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

J. Fungi 2020, 6(4), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040208

Received: 18 September 2020 / Revised: 2 October 2020 / Accepted: 3 October 2020 / Published: 6 October 2020

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Abstract

The emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAf) complicates the treatment of aspergillosis and can nearly double the mortality from invasive aspergillosis (IA). ARAf has been isolated from many different environmental sites and indoor environments and thus presents a significant risk for susceptible patients. Local surveillance of environmental ARAf can guide antifungal prescribing and improve patient outcomes. In this study, seventy-four soils samples collected from the surface of a variety of root vegetables from farm shops and private gardens covering a wide geographical area of the UK, were cultured to assess the presence of A. fumigatus, and the prevalence and nature of any resistance mechanisms. A high-throughput in-house antifungal susceptibility screening method was developed and validated using the EUCAST MIC reference method, E.DEF 9.3.1. A total of 146 isolates were recovered and analysed. Even though the study premise was that soil-covered root vegetables and other fresh produce could represent a conduit for ARAf exposure in vulnerable patients, no ARAf were found in the soil samples despite 55% of samples harbouring A. fumigatus. The sample type and screening method used could be suitable for more extensive monitoring of the soil to detect trends in the prevalence of ARAf. View Full-Text

Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; azole resistance; environmental sampling; soil

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MDPI and ACS Style

van der Torre, M.H.; Whitby, C.; Eades, C.P.; Moore, C.B.; Novak-Frazer, L.; Richardson, M.D.; Rautemaa-Richardson, R. Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils. J. Fungi 2020, 6, 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040208

AMA Style

van der Torre MH, Whitby C, Eades CP, Moore CB, Novak-Frazer L, Richardson MD, Rautemaa-Richardson R. Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils. Journal of Fungi. 2020; 6(4):208. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040208

Chicago/Turabian Style

van der Torre, Mireille H., Cheryl Whitby, Christopher P. Eades, Caroline B. Moore, Lilyann Novak-Frazer, Malcolm D. Richardson, and Riina Rautemaa-Richardson. 2020. "Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils" Journal of Fungi 6, no. 4: 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040208

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Absence of Azole Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolated from Root Vegetables Harvested from UK Arable and Horticultural Soils

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