Detection of aflatoxinogenic Aspergillus species in Bosnian sudzuk

The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of Aspergillus species in Bosnian sudžuk, the most preferred dry sausage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and evaluate their aflatoxigenic potential. A total of 145 bulk and vacuum packed samples of Bosnian sudžuk were collected from retail in the Sarajevo region; 105 samples from individual artisanal producers, and 40 samples were industrially produced Bosnian sudžuk. In total, four and seven A. flavus and A. parasiticus were isolated, respectively, while one or more genes responsible for biosynthesis of aflatoxins (nor-1, ver-1, omt-1 and apa-2) were detected in eight isolates. Aflatoxigenic strains were not found in the industrially produced samples. This is the first report about the presence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species in Bosnian sudžuk. Key words: A. flavus; A. parasiticus; aflatoxigenicity; Bosnian sudžuk, aflatoxin genes