Isolation, identification and antifungal resistance profile of toxigenic Aspergillus species from marketed dog foods in Ibadan, Nigeria
- 1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria
- 2Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria
- 3Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Mycotoxin-producing fungi that contaminate dog food have effects on the feed’s nutritional value, organoleptic characteristics, and overall quality. Animals and humans may experience both short-term and long-term harmful effects by consuming fungi and mycotoxin-contaminated feeds. In dogs, high morbidity and mortality are observed as a result of immunosuppressive, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic effects from the mycotoxins. This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance profile and mycotoxins produced by toxigenic Aspergillus species, with the potential aim of providing baseline information on the quality and safety of commercial dog feeds.
Eighteen brands/types of dog food samples were obtained from pet and veterinary stores in Ibadan, Oyo State. Two main species of presumptive toxigenic Aspergillus were isolated and identified by using both macroscopic examination and standard microbiological procedures. Antifungal susceptibility test (AFST) was carried out using the disc diffusion method to determine resistance profiles of these presumptive isolates (n=14). The GC-MS analytical method was used to screen 10 selected dog foods for 16 different mycotoxins.
Results: Sixteen (88.9%) samples were presumptively positive for Aspergillus species. All (100%) crunchies (imported), noodles and mash types of dog food samples were positive for Aspergillus species. While two out of the three local crunchies and one out of the spaghetti types of the dog food were positive for Aspergillus species. Seven (39%) and 16 (89%) isolation rates were recorded for presumptive Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. A varying degree of resistance was observed among the selected isolates to Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole and Nystatin. However, 100% of the 14 isolates showed resistance to Flucytosine and Fluconazole, while 100% of the selected isolates were sensitive to Econazole. Seven different resistance patterns were observed for the 14 isolates of both Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus, with 85.7 % Multiple drugs resistance (MDR). Nine mycotoxins (Aflatoxins B1, G1, G2, M1, M2, Fumonisin B2, Ochratoxin A, T2-toxin and H2-toxin) were detected and higher levels for seven of the mycotoxins (Aflatoxins B1, G1, G2, M1, M2, Ochratoxin A and T2-toxin) were observed.
Conclusion: This study isolated toxigenic Aspergillus spp that are resistant to standard antifungal drugs with high mycotoxin contamination in dog foods marketed in Ibadan.
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BibTeX
@article{adeyemo2026isolation,
title = {{Isolation, identification and antifungal resistance profile of toxigenic Aspergillus species from marketed dog foods in Ibadan, Nigeria}},
author = {Ismail Adewuyi Adeyemo and Akeem Olayiwola Ahmed and Tajudeen Opeyemi Isola and Abdulfatai Aremu and Ismail Ayoade Odetokun and Ibrahim Adisa Raufu and Mashood Abiola Raji},
journal = {BMC Veterinary Research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12917-026-05770-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05770-8},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Isolation, identification and antifungal resistance profile of toxigenic Aspergillus species from marketed dog foods in Ibadan, Nigeria
AU - Ismail Adewuyi Adeyemo
AU - Akeem Olayiwola Ahmed
AU - Tajudeen Opeyemi Isola
AU - Abdulfatai Aremu
AU - Ismail Ayoade Odetokun
AU - Ibrahim Adisa Raufu
AU - Mashood Abiola Raji
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC Veterinary Research
DO - 10.1186/s12917-026-05770-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05770-8
AB - Background: Mycotoxin-producing fungi that contaminate dog food have effects on the feed’s nutritional value, organoleptic characteristics, and overall quality. Animals and humans may experience both short-term and long-term harmful effects by consuming fungi and mycotoxin-contaminated feeds. In dogs, high morbidity and mortality are observed as a result of immunosuppressive, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic effects from the mycotoxins. This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance profile and mycotoxins produced by toxigenic Aspergillus species, with the potential aim of providing baseline information on the quality and safety of commercial dog feeds. Eighteen brands/types of dog food samples were obtained from pet and veterinary stores in Ibadan, Oyo State. Two main species of presumptive toxigenic Aspergillus were isolated and identified by using both macroscopic examination and standard microbiological procedures. Antifungal susceptibility test (AFST) was carried out using the disc diffusion method to determine resistance profiles of these presumptive isolates (n=14). The GC-MS analytical method was used to screen 10 selected dog foods for 16 different mycotoxins. Results: Sixteen (88.9%) samples were presumptively positive for Aspergillus species. All (100%) crunchies (imported), noodles and mash types of dog food samples were positive for Aspergillus species. While two out of the three local crunchies and one out of the spaghetti types of the dog food were positive for Aspergillus species. Seven (39%) and 16 (89%) isolation rates were recorded for presumptive Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. A varying degree of resistance was observed among the selected isolates to Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole and Nystatin. However, 100% of the 14 isolates showed resistance to Flucytosine and Fluconazole, while 100% of the selected isolates were sensitive to Econazole. Seven different resistance patterns were observed for the 14 isolates of both Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus, with 85.7 % Multiple drugs resistance (MDR). Nine mycotoxins (Aflatoxins B1, G1, G2, M1, M2, Fumonisin B2, Ochratoxin A, T2-toxin and H2-toxin) were detected and higher levels for seven of the mycotoxins (Aflatoxins B1, G1, G2, M1, M2, Ochratoxin A and T2-toxin) were observed. Conclusion: This study isolated toxigenic Aspergillus spp that are resistant to standard antifungal drugs with high mycotoxin contamination in dog foods marketed in Ibadan.
SN - 1746-6148
ER -