Mycoflora and Aflatoxins in Soil, Eggshells, and Failed Eggs of Chelonia mydas at Ras Al-Jinz, Oman

Elshafie, Abdulkadir E.; Al-Bahry, Saif N.; Alkindi, Abdulaziz; Ba-Omar, Taher; Mahmoud, I.Y.

doi:10.2744/1071-8443(2007)6[267:maaise]2.0.co;2

Cited by 21 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In addition, some of the detected fungi, e.g. Aspergillus niger, have been reported as producers of mycotoxins that can affect humans (Elshafie et al, 2007;Nielsen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Fungal Diversity and Dominance by Ascomycota in Dam Reservoir Soils of Arid Climates

Al-Sadi¹,

Al-Khatri

Nasehi

et al. 2017

IJAB

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The study analyzed fungal diversity in soil trapped behind dams in three arid regions of Oman, in the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Physicochemical analysis indicated that soils are of the loamy sand or sandy loam types and they are deficit in some macro and micro elements. Culture-based techniques revealed variation between dam soils in the number and type of phyla, classes, orders, genera and species. Ascomycota was the most dominant phyla in the three samples, contributing to 89% of the total species. Eurotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes were the most common classes in dam soils. Zygomycetes, Pezizomycetes and Oomycetes were also detected, but at lower levels. Fifty fungal taxa were recovered from the three dam soils, with Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma being the most common genera. Most of the detected species were saprophytes; however some were either plant pathogens or mycotoxin producers, affecting humans directly or indirectly. This study appears to report for the first time 20 fungal species in Oman. It is also the first study from arid regions to characterize high fungal diversity in soil trapped behind dams. The sources of these fungi in dam soils and the implications of fungal diversity are discussed.

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“…In addition, some of the detected fungi, e.g. Aspergillus niger, have been reported as producers of mycotoxins that can affect humans (Elshafie et al, 2007;Nielsen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Fungal Diversity and Dominance by Ascomycota in Dam Reservoir Soils of Arid Climates

Al-Sadi¹,

Al-Khatri

Nasehi

et al. 2017

IJAB

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“…As heterotrophs, their association with a carbon and energy source (usually in the form of living or dead organisms) is a requirement for survival. Fungi are ubiquitous in soil and Penicillium and Aspergillus are commonly found in modern turtle nests (Phillott and Parmenter, 2006;Elshafie et al, 2007), often in association with arthropods (Madden et al, 2008). For example, Phillott and Parmenter (2006) report fungi and other mycobiota on 91% of unhatched eggs in sea-turtle nests in Australia.…”

Section: Early Cretaceous Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Phillott and Parmenter (2006) report fungi and other mycobiota on 91% of unhatched eggs in sea-turtle nests in Australia. Repeated use of turtle nesting sites also contributes to higher organic material in the nesting locality than present in the surrounding sediments, thereby providing abundant nutrients for microorganisms (Elshafie et al, 2007). In addition, the presence of fungi and arthropods increases substantially after egg laying (Madden et al, 2008).…”

Section: Early Cretaceous Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Putative factors include fungal blockage of pores that diminishes respiratory capacity, penetration of the eggshell and invasion of embryonic tissue, production of mycotoxins, reduction of shell calcium content, and/or enzymatic degradation of shells (Solomon and Baird, 1980;Elshafie et al, 2004Elshafie et al, , 2007Phillott and Parmenter, 2006). Antifungal properties of egg albumin and the original mucus layer that covers the eggs after oviposition, however, also play a role in deterring colonization.…”

Section: Early Cretaceous Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Antifungal properties of egg albumin and the original mucus layer that covers the eggs after oviposition, however, also play a role in deterring colonization. Research on modern turtle eggs has sought to determine whether fungi invading turtle eggs are opportunistic contaminants that enter after the egg is compromised or the fungi are initial pathogenic invaders (Solomon andBaird, 1980, Phillott andParmenter, 2001;Elshafie et al, 2004Elshafie et al, , 2007. Phillott and Parmenter (2001), for example, argue that fungi are opportunistic contaminants and invasion of green and loggerhead turtle clutches typically begins from a nonviable egg at the top or periphery of the clutch no sooner than a week after observed egg mortality.…”

Section: Early Cretaceous Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fungi in a Lower Cretaceous Turtle Egg From China: Evidence of Ecological Interactions

Jackson

Jin

Schmitt

2009

PALAIOS

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Fossil fungi and arthropod body parts are present in one of 27 unhatched eggs in a turtle egg clutch from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Liangtoutang Formation, Zhejiang Province, China. The fossil fungal structures include branching septate hyphae, conidiophores supporting multiple phialides, and chains of up to five basipetal conidia (asexual spores). The morphology of the fossil fungus is similar to extant taxa within the genus Penicillium (order Eurotiales), making it the first reported intact Early Cretaceous asexual ascomycete and the earliest record of a presumed intact Penicillium. Biomineralization, a physiologic response to calcium-rich microenvironments, occurs in some extant fungi and may have facilitated detailed preservation of the fossil specimen. This rare evidence of fungal-animal association provides clues to clutch-related paleoecological interactions. The fungus-bearing egg occurs on the clutch periphery, whereas adjacent and more distant eggs show no evidence of fungal invasion. We suggest that the fungi were opportunistic contaminants invading after the egg was compromised, and the fungus failed to spread to adjacent eggs prior to burial and fossilization.

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How do hatcheries influence embryonic development of sea turtle eggs? Experimental analysis and isolation of microorganisms in leatherback turtle eggs

et al. 2011

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Many conservation programs consider translocation of turtle nests to hatcheries as a useful technique. The repeated use of the same incubation substrate over several seasons in these hatcheries could, however, be harmful to embryos if pathogens were able to accumulate or if the physical and chemical characteristics of the incubation environment were altered. However, this hypothesis has yet to be tested. We conducted two field experiments to evaluate the effects of hatchery sand and eggshell decay on the embryonic development of leatherback sea turtle eggs in Colombia. We identified the presence of both fungi and bacteria species on leatherback turtle eggs. Sea turtle eggs exposed to previously used hatchery substrates or to decaying eggshells during the first and middle third of the embryonic development produced hatchlings that were smaller and/or weighed less than control eggs. However, this did not negatively influence hatching success. The final third of embryonic development seems to be less susceptible to infection by microorganisms associated with decaying shells. We discuss the mechanisms that could be affecting sea turtle egg development when in contact with fungi. Further studies should seek to understand the infection process and the stages of development in which the fungi are more virulent to the eggs of this critically endangered species.

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Mycoflora and Aflatoxins in Soil, Eggshells, and Failed Eggs of Chelonia mydas at Ras Al-Jinz, Oman

Cited by 21 publications

References 10 publications

High Fungal Diversity and Dominance by Ascomycota in Dam Reservoir Soils of Arid Climates

High Fungal Diversity and Dominance by Ascomycota in Dam Reservoir Soils of Arid Climates

Fungi in a Lower Cretaceous Turtle Egg From China: Evidence of Ecological Interactions

How do hatcheries influence embryonic development of sea turtle eggs? Experimental analysis and isolation of microorganisms in leatherback turtle eggs

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