First isolation and molecular identification of Alternaria alternata from camels' lung lesion in Egypt

Abstract

Purpose: Identification of the causative agent of granulomatous lesion incamel's lung in Matrouh, Egypt. Methods: Fifty samples of male camels' lung from Matrouh abattoir, Egypt were Macroscopically examined for granulomatous lesion. Followed by routine mycological culturing and microscopicl examination of the affected camel's lung. DNA extraction of the fungal colonies and PCR were done using the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) primers then electrophoresis of the amplified DNA. The 28S ribosomal RNA gene were sequenced followed by alignment on the gene bank data in comparison with previously deposited data of the related fungal sequences. Results: Macroscopic examination of all camels' lung revealed eight camels (16%) having granulomatous lesions in the lung. Routine mycological examination of these camel's lung revealed Aspergillus and Alternaria spp. to be the causative agent in 4 of the isolates with a prevalence of (8%). Presence of fungi being the causative agent of the lesion was confirmed by PCR amplification of the ITS region. The species specific analysis of the 28S gene revealed Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria alternata to be the causative agents of the lung lesions. Conclusion: The granulomatous lesion in the camels' lung were caused by mixed infection by Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria alternata. For the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first isolation of Alternaria alternata from camel lung lesion. Thus Alternaria alternata should be considered a potential pathogens not only for animal external lesions but also for internal organs infections.