Triazole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus from Fungicide-Experienced Soils in Naivasha Subcounty and Nairobi County, Kenya

The mainstay in prevention and treatment of aspergillosis is the use triazole drugs. In Kenya, the use of agricultural azole is one of the predisposing factors in development of resistance. One hundred fifty-six (156) experienced soils were collected from agricultural farms and cultured on Sabouraud DextroseAagar. The study isolated 48 yielded Aspergillus fumigatus and 2 A. flavus. All the isolates were subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing against three triazoles: posaconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole. Out of the isolates, 3 had MIC of 32 and 1 had MIC of 16 against itraconazole, and 1 isolate had MIC of 32 against posaconazole. CYP51A gene was sequenced, and TR34/L98H mutation was identified. Triazole resistance existing in Kenya calls for rational use of azole-based fungicides in agriculture over concerns of emerging antifungal resistance in clinical practice.


Introduction
Aspergillus species, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, is the most common cause of aspergillosis, which is the second leading cause of death after cryptococcosis in patients suffering from fungal infections [1]. Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus is an evolving global health challenge [2]. It is a frequent colonizer of cavitary lesions in tuberculosis patients and cause of mortality in post-TB treatment cases [3].
In contrast, limited data are available from low-income countries, especially from sub-Saharan Africa. However, a recent disturbing report of high resistance to azole was reported in Moshi, Tanzania associated with A. fumigatus with TR34/L98H and TR46/Y12F/T289A mutations [20]. e widespread irrational use of azole-based agricultural fungicides in the flower and horticultural industry in Kenya is a significant risk factor for azole resistance. e study aimed to determine the prevalence of triazole resistance among Aspergillus fumigatus from fungicide-experienced soils.

Study Area.
e study was conducted in Nairobi and Naivasha subcounty where horticultural practices and green houses are concentrated. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and lies at about 1°17′S and 36°49′E while Naivasha is located approximately 90 km northwest of Nairobi. It is located in Nakuru County at 0°43′S36°26E, and horticulture is the main economy. e trade names of commonly used fungicides include milraz, antracol, mistress, and victory which are broad-spectrum fungicides of ornamental, vegetable, and fruit plants (Figure 1).

Sampling for Environmental Isolates.
A total of 156 samples were collected and analyzed. Approximately 5 g dry top surface soil from the agricultural site was collected into a sterile 15 ml Falcon tube using a sterile plastic spoon [23]. Samples were transported in a leak-proof packaging in a cool box to the Mycology Laboratory-KEMRI-Center for Microbiology Research for investigation. Clinical isolates were isolated from sputum samples of suspected aspergillosis patients and were archived at Kenya Medical Research Institute, Mycology Laboratory.

Fungal Culture and Identification.
One gram of soil sample was mixed with 5 ml saponin, vortexed, and the debris was allowed to settle. One hundred microliters of the supernatant was transferred to 500 µl of sterile normal saline and vortexed. Approximately 100 µl of the suspension was cultured onto Sabouraud dextrose agar containing (a). 0.001 mg/l of itraconazole, (b) 0.001 mg/l of voriconazole, and (c) without drug (control). All the inoculated plates were incubated for 5 days at 30°C [24].

Sequencing of CYP51A Gene. Aspergillus fumigatus
showing high MIC against itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole had their CYP51A gene sequenced for detection of mutation as previously described [26].
Triazole resistance levels of all of the Aspergillus fumigatus isolates are summarized in Table 2. According to  International Journal of Microbiology Arendrup et al. [27] breakpoints, the percentage of resistance against both itraconazole and voriconazole was 12.5% and susceptible cases at 87.5% and 85.4% against itraconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Against posaconazole, 27.1% were resistant, 60.4% were intermediates, and 12.5% were susceptible. ree samples with high MIC were subjected to sequence analysis for the detection of mutation in CYP51A in which TR34/L98H was confirmed (Table 3).

Discussion
In our study, we report the presence of triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus from clinical-and fungicide-experienced soils collected from Naivasha and Nairobi, Kenya. Azoleresistant Aspergillus spp. have been detected worldwide including Asia, Europe, Middle East, Tanzania [20], and Kenya. Kemoi et al. reported prevalence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus between 19.23% and 36% from both naive and International Journal of Microbiology experience soils. However, the study did not sequence CYP51A gene to determine the type of mutations involved [21]. e finding of this study is of great medical implications especially in African environments where resources are limited and effective treatment and early diagnosis are a challenge. Posaconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole are the first-line drugs used in management and prevention of aspergillosis; hence, detection of environmental isolates resistant to these triazoles poses great challenge in the medical field [27,28]. In Kenya, Naivasha subcounty is known for extensive flower farming with extensive use of fungicides. e use of azole-based fungicide in agriculture introduces antifungal pressure resulting in reduced susceptible fungi and increases azole-resistant strains [29]. Detection of A. fumigatus with TR34/L98H mutation is the first report in Kenya. It has been reported by several authors that isolates with mutations in TR34/L98H region have cross resistance to both medical azole and azole-based fungicides, for example, propiconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, bromuconazole, and epoxiconazole [4,12]. e TR34/L98H mutation in gene CYP51A involves the substitution of leucine 98 for histidine L98H and two 34-bp tandem copies in CYP51A gene in the promoter region [10,[30][31][32][33].
Azole-based fungicides in the environment have been linked to TR/L98H mutation in Aspergillus fumigatus. is form of resistance has been linked to point alteration in 220, 138, and 54 codons from patient on azole treatment [34]. Plant pathogenic molds having tandem repeat which aid in resistance against sterol demethylation inhibitor fungicides have been reported [35]. Because fungi including A. fumigatus and other plant fungal pathogens share the same habitat, they are constantly exposed to fungicide pressure. erefore, if Aspergillus species harboring TR/L98H resistance is present in the environment, the conidia can be widely dispersed by wind and may cause infection in the susceptible individual [9].
In Moshi, Tanzania, Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from soil known for extensive farming. It was reported that 20% of the environmental samples harbor azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus, of which 5.5% was associated with TR46/Y122FT289A mutation and 20% TR34/L98H mutation was isolated from woody debris and soil samples [20]. e isolation of Aspergillus fumigatus with G54E mutation in Tanzania, Romania, and India from environmental samples is considered to occur in patients with prolonged exposure to azole [36]. e G54E mechanisms are responsible for 20.0% from India, 30.4% from Romania, and 46.4% of resistant isolates from Tanzania [36].

Conclusion
ere is significant triazole resistance among environmental isolates of Aspergillus probably ascribed to irrational use of fungicide in agriculture and calls for legislative mechanism for control of fungicide use. is is a grave public health concern given the limited resources and the limited antifungal options available for the susceptible patients. ere was no human participation or direct human contact. However, approved permission to access the farms was obtained from relevant institution or flower farms owner or individual farm owner.

Conflicts of Interest
e authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.