AN IN-VITRO STUDY OF THE STEROL CONTENT AND TOXIN PRODUCTION OF FUSARIUM ISOLATES FROM MYCOTIC KERATITIS

Isolates of Fusarium species from 18 patients with keratomycosis were examined for their C-29 and C-31 sterol content and for their capacity to synthesise mycotoxins. All isolates were resistant to azole antifu ngal agents in vitro and the sterol contents were indistinguishable. I n-vitro toxin production was monitored by gas chromatography-mass spec trometry; 13 isolates produced nivalenol, six produced deoxynivalenol, nine gave T-2 toxin and two showed the presence of diacetoxyscirpenol at different time intervals. However, neither sterol content nor toxi n production in vitro appeared to be related to the severity of infect ions observed in patients.