title: Amoebae and other protozoa in material samples from moisture-damaged buildings.
abstract: Mold growth in buildings has been shown to be associated with adverse health effects. The fungal and bacterial growth on moistened building materials has been studied, but little attention has been paid to the other organisms spawning in the damaged materials. We examined moist building materials for protozoa, concentrating on amoebae. Material samples (n = 124) from moisture-damaged buildings were analyzed for amoebae, fungi, and bacteria. Amoebae were detected in 22% of the samples, and they were found to favor cooccurrence with bacteria and the fungi Acremonium spp., Aspergillus versicolor, Chaetomium spp., and Trichoderma spp. In addition, 11 seriously damaged samples were screened for other protozoa. Ciliates and flagellates were found in almost every sample analyzed. Amoebae are known to host pathogenic bacteria, such as chlamydiae, legionellae, and mycobacteria and they may have a role in the complex of exposure that contributes to the health effects associated with moisture damage in buildings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, PO Box 95, FIN-70701 Kuopio, Finland. terhi.yli-pirila@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Terhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yli-Pirilä
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusnetsov
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haatainen
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hänninen
authors.forename: Pasi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jalava
authors.forename: Marjut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiman
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seuri
authors.forename: Maija-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
mesh_terms: D000656:Amoeba / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D003252:Construction Materials; D004782:Environmental Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water