The Optimum Growth of Penicillium spp. and Cunninghamella spp. Isolated from Diet and Its Toxic Effect on Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

Fungi are a major microorganism present in the feedstuffs that able to reduce nutritive value and produce toxin that harmful for animal. Penicillium spp. and Cunninghamella spp. were dominant present in the feedstuffs in tropical regions. The objectives of this study were to fi nd out the optimum pH and temperature of Penicillium spp. and Cunninghamella spp. on agar media and to fi nd out the effect of feeding diet containing corn contaminated with the fungi at level of 0%, 50% and 100% on the performance and relative organ weight of 45 mice (Mus musculus). Cunninghamella spp. grew at pH range of 3-9, and Penicillium spp. at pH range of 3-7. The temperature for the optimum growth of both fungi was on room temperature (28±2 oC). Feed consumption and daily gain (ADG) of mice were not signifi cantly affected by content of corn contaminated with Cunninghamella spp. Conversely, corn contaminated with Penicillium spp. signifi cantly (P<0.05) reduced feed consumption and ADG of mice. Treatments had no effect on liver and hearth relative weight, but signifi cantly infl uenced relative weight of kidney and lymph. Lymph relative weight of mice fed ration containing Penicillium-contaminated corn was lower (P<0.05) than that of control. Mice treated with contaminated corn from both fungi at the level 100% also signifi cantly (P<0.05) had higher kidney relative weight than that of control. It was concluded that the toxic effect of Penicillium spp. was higher than that of Cunninghamella spp.