scholarly journals Assessment of Viable Fungi in Indoor Air: A Case Study from Tagore’s Residence at Jorasanko, India

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subarna Bhattacharyya ◽  
Debleena Mukherjee ◽  
Paushali Sarkar ◽  
Sreya Ghosh ◽  
Barnali Samaddar ◽  
...  

Indoor environment is significant with respect to human health especially if it is concerned when the building is v. Aim of very old. In the present study was to assess the presence of airborne fungi at an old building in Kolkata India where lots of tourists are exposed every day. Residence of famous Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore (built in the 18th century and presently used as a famous museum) in Kolkata, West Bengal was selected for this study and the indoor fungi from different room of the museum were assessed by using exposure plate technique. Humidity, temperature, wind speed and illuminance were also measured by hygrometer, thermometer anemometer and lux-meter respectively. The fungal species isolated from the air samples of different rooms were Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Paecilomyces sp., Trichoderma sp, Alternaria sp Verticillium sp, Fusarium sp, Cladosporium sp, Yeast, Curvularia sp. and Helminthosporium sp. among them, Aspergillus sp. (71.4% at monsoon at library), Penicillium sp (57% at summer at library), Paecilomyces sp.(91% at monsoon at manuscript room) are mostly dominated pathogens, which may harm the workers and visitors of the museum. No significant correlation among colony forming unit of fungi with illuminance, wind speed and temperature in the tested indoor environment was noted whereas, the humidity in indoor environment played a crucial (P<0.05) role. Round the year humidity control may be required for maintaining healthy environment.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-234
Author(s):  
Debasmita Ghosh Dhar ◽  
Priyanka Dhar ◽  
Ashok Kumar Das ◽  
Naim Uddin

Fungal spores contribute significant concentration in the bioaerosol of various environmental conditions which may have potential health threats. Our study was aimed at determining the presence of disseminating airborne fungi in a pediatric government hospital in Kolkata. The study was started from the post-monsoon to the middle winter (August to December 2008) in the indoor and outdoor environment of the hospital with temperature and humidity ranges of 11.2 °C-35.2 °C and 70 per cent-90 per cent, respectively. Air sampling was performed at 14 days intervals during the daytime following the gravitation settling method, and the fungal colonies were identified based on micro and macro morphological characteristics. The percentage contribution of individual fungal species from the outdoor section and indoor units (Newborn Baby Ward, Respiratory Care Unit, Step Down Ward, Thalassemia Care Unit) of the hospital environment was calculated. We observed profound aeromycofloral diversity where the outdoor environment was mostly colonised by sterile hyphae (16.43 %) along with the allergenic Aspergillus fumigatus (13.6 %) and Penicillium sp. (12.32 %). Conversely, an abundance of Cladosporium herbarum (24.7 %) and Penicillium sp. (17.85 %) followed by Aspergillus sp. (12.9 %) and sterile hyphae (14.51 %) were found in different indoor units. Our results showed the diversity of airborne mycoflora which promotes the trend to health difficulties and thus the hospital environment monitoring along with proper control measures is essential.


2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladimeji Ahmed ◽  
Olusegun Balogun ◽  
Oluyemisi Fawole ◽  
Oluwatoyin Fabiyi ◽  
Aliyu Hussein ◽  
...  

Seed health testing of fifteen soybean cultivars obtained from five locations in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecology of Nigeria was carried out using two main seed health testing methods described by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA); the standard blotter and two variants of agar plate incubation method (Potato Dextrose Agar and Czapeck Dox Agar plate methods) to determine the seed infection by fungi. Seed component plating was also carried out to determine the most active site of infection of the seeds by the fungi. Five fungal species were isolated from the cultivars tested. The percentage of seeds infected with Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp. was significantly different (p<0.05) among the cultivars, with the highest value standing at 15.20 percent of Fusarium sp. and 8.54 percent of Penicillium sp. in cultivars MSJ and FSSBu, respectively. The difference in the methods of isolation was also significant (p<0.05) and the agar (PDA) plate method was the most efficient in the isolation of Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Phomopsis sp. The efficiency of the other methods of isolation however varied for the different organisms. The cotyledon was observed to be the most active site of infection with thirteen of the fifteen tested cultivars showing 40-100% of infection of the cotyledons. The need for soybean seed health testing before their distribution to farmers is made manifest in this study.


Author(s):  
Pinto Karmakar ◽  
Biren Jamatia ◽  
Sanjit Debnath ◽  
Panna Das ◽  
Ajay Krishna Saha

The present study provides baseline information on the quantitative and qualitative estimation of aeromycoflora. Burkard personal airsampler and Anderson two stage airsampler were used to detect the quantitative and qualitative estimation of aeromycoflora. 17 non-viable fungal spores were recorded with the aid of Burkard personal airsampler and 12 viable fungal genera were detected using Anderson two stage airsampler. Higher concentration airborne fungi observed in the month of March. Aspergillus sp, Ascospore, Basidiospore, Curvularia sp, Alternaria sp were found to be Nigrospora sp most predominant nonviable fungal genera whereas dominant viable genera were Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia sp, Trichoderma sp and  Fusarium sp in both the environments. The result of antifungal potential of Clerodendrum infortunatum showed highest efficacy against Aspergillus sp followed by Penicillium sp and Fusarium sp. This present study provided the baseline information about the viable and non-viable concentration in the study sites. Besides the outcomes of this study along with the insightful explanation could aptly provide basis for strategizing effective preventive measures against airborne-fungi. Those are responsible for causing different agricultural crops diseases and human respiratory ailments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-90
Author(s):  
José Roberto Chaves Neto ◽  
Renato Carnellosso Guerra ◽  
Ricardo Boscaini ◽  
Nívea Raquel Ledur ◽  
Maurivan Travessini ◽  
...  

O controle das podridões das espigas e grãos de milho é realizado principalmente com a aplicação de fungicidas químicos em todas as regiões produtoras do Rio Grande do Sul. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da aplicação foliar de fungicidas na incidência de grãos ardidos e de fungos dos gêneros Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. e Aspergillus sp. em grãos de milho. O experimento foi conduzido na safra agrícola 2014/15, em Cruz Alta, RS. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados (DBC), com 4 tratamentos (3 com aplicação de fungicidas e 1 testemunha sem aplicação) em 4 repetições. Os tratamentos basearam-se nas aplicações dos fungicidas Piraclostrobina + epoxiconazol (380 mL ha-1), Picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (300 mL ha-1) e Azoxistrobina + benzovindiflupir (150 g ha-1). As variáveis analisadas foram: percentagem de grãos ardidos, massa de mil grãos e rendimento de grãos. Houve efeito da aplicação de fungicidas sobre toas as variáveis avaliadas. Os componentes de produção assim como a incidência de grãos ardidos e de fungos fitopatogênicos, em grãos de milho são influenciados pela aplicação via foliar de fungicidas no estádio fenológico V8 da cultura do milho.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Rafał Ogórek ◽  
Mateusz Speruda ◽  
Justyna Borzęcka ◽  
Agata Piecuch ◽  
Magdalena Cal

Most underground ecosystems are heterotrophic, fungi in these objects are dispersed in the air in the form of spores, and they may be potentially hazardous to mammals. Research in underground sites has focused on mesophilic airborne fungi and only a few concerned cold-adapted species. Therefore, the goal of our research was the first report of psychrophilic and psychrotolerant aeromycota in the Brestovská Cave using culture-based techniques with genetic and phenotypic identification. Plates with PDA medium containing sampled biological material were incubated at 8 ± 0.5 °C. The density of mycobiota inside the cave ranged from 37.4 to 71 CFU 1 m−3 of air and 63.3 CFU 1 m−3 of air outside the cave. Thus, the level of fungal spores did not exceed the standards for the mycological quality of the air. A total of 18 species were isolated during the study, and some species may be potentially dangerous to people with weakened immune system. All fungal species were present inside the cave and only seven of them were outside. Cladosporium cladosporioides dominated in the external air samples and Mortierella parvispora was cultured most frequently from internal air samples. To our knowledge, this is the first discovery of the fungal species such as Coniothyrium pyrinum, Cystobasidium laryngis, Filobasidium wieringae, Leucosporidium drummii, M. parvispora, Mrakia blollopis, Nakazawaea holstii, and Vishniacozyma victoriae in the air inside the underground sites. Moreover, C. pyrinum, C. laryngis, L. drummii, M. blollopis, and N. holstii have never been detected in any component of the underground ecosystems. There are possible reasons explaining the detection of those species, but global warming is the most likely.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 2479-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Mette Madsen ◽  
Søren T. Larsen ◽  
Ismo K. Koponen ◽  
Kirsten I. Kling ◽  
Afnan Barooni ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn the indoor environment, people are exposed to several fungal species. Evident dampness is associated with increased respiratory symptoms. To examine the immune responses associated with fungal exposure, mice are often exposed to a single species grown on an agar medium. The aim of this study was to develop an inhalation exposure system to be able to examine responses in mice exposed to mixed fungal species aerosolized from fungus-infested building materials. Indoor airborne fungi were sampled and cultivated on gypsum boards. Aerosols were characterized and compared with aerosols in homes. Aerosols containing 107CFU of fungi/m3air were generated repeatedly from fungus-infested gypsum boards in a mouse exposure chamber. Aerosols containedAspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus niger,Aspergillus ustus,Aspergillus versicolor,Chaetomium globosum,Cladosporiumherbarum,Penicillium brevicompactum,Penicillium camemberti,Penicillium chrysogenum,Penicillium commune,Penicillium glabrum,Penicillium olsonii,Penicillium rugulosum,Stachybotrys chartarum, andWallemia sebi. They were all among the most abundant airborne species identified in 28 homes. Nine species from gypsum boards and 11 species in the homes are associated with water damage. Most fungi were present as single spores, but chains and clusters of different species and fragments were also present. The variation in exposure level during the 60 min of aerosol generation was similar to the variation measured in homes. Through aerosolization of fungi from the indoor environment, cultured on gypsum boards, it was possible to generate realistic aerosols in terms of species composition, concentration, and particle sizes. The inhalation-exposure system can be used to study responses to indoor fungi associated with water damage and the importance of fungal species composition.


2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 659-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nádia Izumi Terabe ◽  
Cristiane Moreno Martins ◽  
Martin Homechin

O conhecimento do comportamento natural da nogueira Pecan às principais doenças é de suma importância para o estabelecimento do planejamento da implantação da cultura. O controle fitossanitário e tratos culturais devem ser realizados de modo a não comprometerem a qualidade do produto final, as amêndoas. Foram avaliadas nozes produzidas na safra de 2005 e oriundas de Uraí-PR, pelas cultivares Burkett, Frotscher e Moneymaker, para identificar e quantificar os microrganismos associados à amêndoas e cascas dos frutos, bem como observar diferenças entre organismos colonizadores das cultivares. Os frutos foram avaliados na pós-colheita, aos trinta dias de armazenamento em ambiente, através da metodologia do papel de filtro, sendo submetidos ou não à assepsia superficial. O fungo Cladosporium caryigenum, promotor da rancificação das amêndoas foi observado, em amêndoas e cascas, nas cultivares Burkett, Frotscher e Moneymaker; Fusarium sp., foi encontrado em porcentuais elevados, tanto em amêndoas quanto em cascas das três cultivares estudadas; Cephalothecium roseum, causador do mofo róseo em amêndoas, na cultivar Frotscher. Aspergillus sp. e Penicillium sp., causadores de emboloramento e produtores de aflotoxinas foram observados em porcentuais representativos, em amêndoas da cultivar Frotscher e em amêndoas e cascas das cultivares Frotscher, Burkett e Moneymaker, respectivamente. Os maiores porcentuais de perda do rendimento foram observados na cultivar Burkett, por causa da incidência de Colletotrichum sp., causador da antracnose em amêndoas, que acarreta escurecimento e deterioração do produto final, levando-o ao descarte.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
René Dionisio Cupull-Santana ◽  
Remigio Cortés-Rodríguez ◽  
Ervelio Eliseo Olazábal-Manso ◽  
Carlos Alberto Hernández Medina

La investigación se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar las características fisicoquímicas y la actividad antifúngica de propóleos de Apis mellifera, provenientes de las provincias de Villa Clara, Cienfuegos y Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Se utilizó el método de recolección por raspado y se estableció el contenido de cera, ceniza, material insoluble y resina de los propóleos crudos. Además, se evaluó la actividad antimicrobiana in vitro frente a los hongos Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Trichoderma sp., Colletotrichum sp. y Monilia sp.; los extractos presentaron alta actividad antifúngica en un amplio rango de concentraciones; además, los parámetros fisicoquímicos presentaron valores semejantes y dentro de los establecidos por regulaciones internacionales.


Author(s):  
H. O. Stanley ◽  
M. E. Amesi

This study was conducted to assess the outdoor air quality of some urban slums in Port Harcourt. Six sampling sites were selected, from the Port Harcourt urban slums; two sites from each slum represented with a suffix 1 or 2.  The slums are designated Marine base (#1 and #2), RSU BG, Obudu 2, Bundu (#1 and #2). The air quality was analyzed using portable handheld air quality analyzer and the microbiological parameters were determined by standard cultural method. The study revealed that the sampled sites were laden with bacterial and fungal species. namely; Klebsiella sp., Micrococcus sp., Escherichia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Baccilus sp., Aeromonas sp., Streptococus sp., Serratia sp., Aerococcus sp., Proteus sp. Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Candida sp., Aspergillus sp., Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp. and Tricorderma sp. Highest obtained noise level was at Marine base 1 which was  66 db, highest relative humidity of 54.8% at RSU BG, CO2  (ppm) values of 4.8, 80, 796, 850, 638, 698 for Marine base 2, Marine base 1, Obudu 2, RSU BG, Bundu 1 and Bundu 2 respectively. The values for NO2 (ppm) was (0.05, 0.053, 0.071, 0.022, 0.035, 0.023), suspended particulate matter (ppm) was (7.1, 8.7, 9.5, 9.5, 6.2, 6.2), SO2 (ppm) was (0.42, 0.15, 0.50, 0.34, 1.26, 0.41) CO (ppm) was (4.8, 1.7, 2.2, 3.0, 3.9, 3.6) and volatile organic compound (ppm) was (1.0, 1.1, 0.9, 75 and 1.2). This study has shown that Port Harcourt urban slums are experiencing some degree of contamination not acceptable for healthy living that requires attention to curb. These areas require all-round improvement in sanitation.   M Give one sentence on methodology.


Author(s):  
Nastaran Talepour ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand ◽  
Effat Abbasi-Montazeri ◽  
Seyed Mahmoud Latifi ◽  
Neamat Jaafarzadeh Haghighi Fard

Introduction: Airborne Cladosporium spores in different regions of the world are known as the main cause of allergic diseases. This study aimed to identify the Cladosporium species airborne fungi in Ahvaz wastewater treat- ment plant area and its adjacent places and check the effect of some meteoro- logical parameters on their emissions. Materials and methods: Cladosporium spores were cultured on Sabouraud`s dextrose agar (SDA) medium in both cold and warm seasons. The passive sampling method was performed and after incubation, colonies were counted as CFU/Plate/h. Then, according to the macroscopic and microscopic charac- teristics of the genus, the fungal was studied. The meteorological parameters including temperature, humidity, air pressure, dew point, wind speed, and ultraviolet index were measured. Results: At least, 3358 colonies were counted. 1433 colonies were related  to the Cladosporium species. The amount of Cladosporium in indoor air was 46% of the total Cladosporium. The average of meteorological parameters includes temperature, humidity, air pressure, dew point, wind speed and UV index during the study were 27.8 °C, 32.9%, 548.7 °Kpa, 3.6°, 9.1 km / h and 3.9 respectively. 42.6% of the total number of colonies was related to the Cladosporium species. Cladospiromes had a direct correlation with the dew point, temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, and ultraviolet index (Pvalue<0.05). Primary sludge dewatering has the greatest role in the Cladospo- rium spores emission. Conclusion: Considering the importance of Cladosporium spores in the ap- pearance of allergic diseases, and given that wastewater treatment workers spend most of their time outside, observing health and preventive measures is necessary in this regard.


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