An Analysis of the Mycotoxins, Cytotoxicity, and Biodiversity of Airborne Molds Belonging to Aspergillus Genera Isolated from the Zoological Garden

The present study aimed to identify airborne molds of the <i>Aspergillus</i> genus and to determine the secondary metabolite profiles and toxicity of dominant fungal species isolated from various locations in the Wroclaw Zoological Garden. Air samples were collected using a MAS-100 air sampler and analyzed for fungal colony-forming units (CFU). Morphological and molecular methods, including ITS sequencing, were employed for dominant mold identification. The most frequently encountered species were <i>A. fumigatus</i> and <i>A. niger</i>, while <i>A. pseudoglaucus</i> and <i>A. nomius</i> were the least common. The high prevalence of species from sections <i>Nigri</i>, <i>Flavi</i>, and <i>Fumigati</i> suggests their adaptability to the zoo environment. A total of 17 <i>Aspergillus</i> isolates were analyzed for both their capacity to induce cellular toxicity and their production of mycotoxins. The results indicated that all isolates exhibited cellular toxicity, with 70.6% displaying levels of toxicity that were medium to high. Furthermore, the mycotoxicological analysis revealed that only <i>A. fumigatus</i> strains were capable of producing mycotoxins, specifically gliotoxin. The study underscores the discrepancy between the levels of toxicity and the production of mycotoxins, thereby suggesting the presence of additional cytotoxic metabolites. These findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between fungal metabolites and their consequences for human health.