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Objective: Identification of elastase activity of A.fumigatus from
infected humans and animals. Specimens: Twenty six A.fiumigatus isolates and also I standard strain that were used for this study were obtained from human and animal cases.
Procedure: Gross macroscopy and microscopy morphology of A. fumigatus were examined. Then were cultured on solid and
broth medium containing elastin. The diameters of the clearing
zones surrounding colonies were used to estimate elastase production by t e different isolates. The culture broth was filtered and measured spectrophotometrically for the produce of extracellular elastase.
Statistical analysis: Student’s “t” test and Chi-square were used for comparison and analysis of groups
Results: The results of fungal cultures on plates with elastin , showed
that the fungus isolated from humans’ lung had the most light halo diameter around colony, whereas 3 isolates from infected humans and animals appeared with small light halo diameter in broth medium. A. fumigatus isolated from bovine mastitis, produced the
most amount of the enzyme on the medium. A.fumigatus isolated
from avian keratomycosis had the lowest elastase activity.
Conclusion: The results showed that A. fumigatus isolated from
humans were more potential than animal isolates to produce eastase. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 58, 2: 193-196, 2003.