ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Examination of the Antifungal Potential of Ozone
Versus Aspergillus Parasiticus Isolated from Water
More details
Hide details
1
The Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology, Al-Azhar University, 11787, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
2
Botany Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shames University
3
Animal Production Department, Food and Agriculture Sciences College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, 29630, Clemson, South Carolina,
United States of America
Submission date: 2024-04-07
Final revision date: 2024-05-05
Acceptance date: 2024-07-09
Online publication date: 2024-11-06
Corresponding author
Mohammed Yosri
The Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology, Al-Azhar University, 11787, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The ecosystem and human health are being put at greater risk by the fungal pollution of water
sources. In this study, the inactivation of the most common fungal isolate in water sources using ozone
was reported. Six fungal isolates were isolated from Al-Azhar tap water, Al-Azhar wastewater, El-Menia
canal water, and the El-Menia water treatment plant, where Aspergillus parasiticus (A. parasiticus)
was the most common fungal isolate in all tested water samples. The fungi were morphologically
identified, and A. parasiticus identification was confirmed using molecular identification. The variation
of the dry weight of the isolated fungal species was reported upon exposure to different doses of ozone
ranging from 10 μg/cc to 60 μg/cc, where the dry weight of A. parasiticus was the first fungal isolate
that was significantly (P≤0.05) reduced upon using 10 μg/cc. The impact of using various doses of
ozone for 5 minutes in metals levels on both Al-Azhar wastewater and El-Menia water treatment plant
was compared versus using (50, 100, and 200 ppm) of chlorine, reflecting that using 10 μg/cc of ozone
for 5 minutes could be applied as an effective dose in decreasing levels of metals. Furthermore, secretion
of aflatoxins by A. parasiticus was dramatically decreased (P≤0.05) upon exposing the fungus to
10 mg/cc ozone for 5 minutes relative to untreated fungus. The present results revealed the possibility
of using a low dose of ozone to decrease the growth of fungal pathogens in water and their possible
secreted toxins.