INDAGINE SULL’ORIGINE DI UNA COLONIZZAZIONE DA PARTE DI MUFFA OCRATOSSINOGENA IN UN SALUMIFICIO DELL’OLTREPO’ PAVESE

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin synthesized in cereals, spices and in fermented meat products by several Aspergillus and Penicillium species. Even if moulds are essen al for the correct ripening of salami, the presence of ochratoxigenic moulds and OTA whose toxic eff ect is known has to be monitored. In two salami manufactured by the same producer in Oltrepo’ area - Pavia province in diff erent periods of 2014 we have isolated Aspergillus westerdijkiae, a strong OTA-producer and we have found OTA over the limits permi ed by Italian regula on. Subsequently we sampled the air, the surfaces and some probable sources of contamina on in this family-run factory. We have found A. westerdijkiae from the air of all rooms sampled, from six surface points in the ripening rooms and from the surfaces of two diff erent salami batches produced in 2015. The same strain was also isolated from the soil collected just outside the factory and from outdoor air.