Screening for toxigenic marine-derived fungi in Algerian mussels and their immediate environment

During our search for marine-derived fungi from shellfish farming areas along the Algerian western coast, more than 250 strains were isolated from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and their immediate environment (marine sediments and seawater). A majority of the strains isolated belonged to four genera: Penicillium (55.1%), Aspergillus (8.3%), Trichoderma (5.8%), and Cladosporium (3.7%). Extracts of 91 strains were assayed to evaluate their accute toxicity on Artemia sauna larvae. Twenty-four percent of the extracts tested appeared active with different levels of toxicity. There were few toxigenic strains in those isolated from sediments whereas a majority of strains isolated from mussels exhibited toxicity. Highest activities were exhibited by strains belonging to the genus Penicillium. Their presence in shellfish farming areas confirmed the necessity to pay a peculiar attention to shellfish contamination by such fungi. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.