THE CURRENT ROLE OF ASPERGILLUS AND PENICILLIUM IN HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH

Aspergillus and Penicillium are ubiquitous fungi, usually found as sap rophytes. Only a few species are considered to be important in human o r animal disease. However, many other wise benign species are supreme opportunists and have been found increasingly as invaders of the immun o-compromised. This paper first describes with a broad brush modern ap proaches to the classification of these genera, the reasons behind som e name changes and the effective forces now acting to stabilize names. Recent taxonomic schemes are described. The taxonomy of pathogenic As pergillus and Penicillium species is outlined, the subgenera where pat hogens occur identified, and the question of why particular species ar e pathogens addressed. The significance of Aspergillus and Penicillium in mammalian disease is heightened by their production of potent myco toxins. The importance of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins as a cause of human death in parts of Africa and Asia and the impact of ochratox ins, produced by Penicillium verrucosum, on human and animal health in Europe will be emphasized. Possible mycotoxin ingestion from spores p oses a further health threat.