Studies on saprozoonosis. I. A survey on Aspergillus species with special reference to occupational habits.

A comprehensive survey of Aspergillus species has been carried out among different cattle and donkey handlers. A total of 300 pharyngeal swabs of different subjects including 100 control and 100 each from cattle and donkey handlers was investigated. All the subjects were found healthy. Among the species of Aspergillus, the number of A. flavus appeared higher followed by A. fumigatus, still lower number was encountered with other species like A. nidulans and A. glaucus. In order to establish the saprozoonotic relationship, soil and air samples of various animal sheds were also analyzed. It was found that the total number of isolates of Aspergillus species from animal sheds were always higher compared to the control samples. None of the A. flavus strains obtained from air samples produced aflatoxin. Histopathological changes in Swiss mice caused by intratail vein administration of spores of Aspergillus species have been investigated.