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Azole-Resistant Invasive Aspergillosis: Relationship to Agriculture

  • Clinical Lab Issues (M Pfaller, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus has been increasingly reported particularly over the last decade. Two routes of acquisition are described: selection of resistance during long term azole therapy in the clinical setting, and primary acquisition of resistant isolates from the environment due to the considerable use of azole fungicides in agriculture and for material preservation. Three specific resistance genotypes have been found in azole naïve patients. Two of these have also been found in the environment and are characterized by a tandem repeat in the promoter region of the target gene coupled with point mutation(s) in CYP51A (TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A). In the third a single target enzyme alteration (G432S) is found. These resistant “environmental” strains have been detected in many West-European countries as well as in the Asia-Pacifics. Noticeably, these two continents account for the highest fungicide use in the global perspective (37 % and 24 %, respectively). Among the 25 azole fungicides, five have been associated with the potential to select for the TR34/L98H genotype; three of these are among those most frequently used. Although the number of antifungal fungicide compounds and classes available is impressive compared to the armamentarium in human medicine, azoles will remain the most important group in agriculture due to superior field performance and significant resistance in fungal pathogens to other compounds. Hence, further spread of environmental resistant Aspergillus genotypes may occur and will depend on the fitness of each resistant phenotype and the pattern of azole fungicide use.

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Disclosure

Dr. M.C. Arendrup has received research grants from Astellas, Gilead, MSD and Pfizer, been advisor or consultant for Gilead, MSD and Pfizer and received speakers honorarium for talks from Astellas, Gilead, MSD and Pfizer.

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  1. Unit of Mycology and Parasitology, Department of Microbiological Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Christen Rune Stensvold & Maiken Cavling Arendrup

  2. Department of Integrated Pest Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark

    Lise Nistrup Jørgensen

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  1. Christen Rune Stensvold
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Correspondence to Maiken Cavling Arendrup.

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Stensvold, C.R., Jørgensen, L.N. & Arendrup, M.C. Azole-Resistant Invasive Aspergillosis: Relationship to Agriculture. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 6, 178–191 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-012-0097-7

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