True fungi isolated from insects collected in food-related facilities in Aichi Prefecture, Japan

• Published in: Medical Entomology and Zoology Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 9 - 15
• Main Authors: MATSUMI, Yusuke, KATO, Yuri, MATSUI, Hideki, KAWAGUCHI, Haruka, SUMINO, Tomoki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology 2010
• Subjects: central kitchen; food manufacturing factory; household insects; industrial insects; sanitation; true fungi
• ISSN: 0424-7086; 2185-5609; 2185-5609
• DOI: 10.7601/mez.61.9

Insects are potential mechanical vectors and carriers of pathogenic microorganisms. True fungi (Eumycota), associated with insects, may be harmful to humans as an allergen and cause contamination in the food industry. A total of 47 dead or live insects comprising 21 different families were collected from 4 study sites (baking factory, rice cracker factory, rice processing factory and central kitchen) in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. True fungi isolated from the body surface of household or industrial insects were evaluated. In this study, 10 genera of true fungi (Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., Aureobasidium spp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus spp., Nigrospora sp., Phoma sp., Curvularia sp. and Fusarium sp.) were isolated from 35 (74.5%) of 47 collected specimens. These isolated true fungi are common in human environments. Among the 10 genera of true fungi, Cladosporium spp. were most frequently found in the study sites. There was almost no correlation between insect body sizes and colony forming units (CFU) (Spearman rs=0.195, p=0.189). Dead and live insects may provide an ideal environment for the growth of true fungi in food manufacturing environments. Therefore, good sanitary practices should be implemented to eliminate industrial and household insect pests.